US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE3206

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003206 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, NL, BL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/BOLIVIA: DUTCH MAY CONSIDER SENDING 
MONITORS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 214591 
 
1. (SBU) The Netherlands is receptive to the Bolivian 
government's call for bilateral assistance to the 
Organization of American States (OAS) mission to monitor the 
December 18 general elections.  The Netherlands has provided 
US$100,000 to the mission and has pushed for EU support of 
the mission.  The Dutch are prepared to consider a request to 
provide monitors, but believe other nations may be in a 
better position to do so. 
 
2. (SBU) Dimitri Vogelaar (Bolivia Desk Officer, MFA), told 
Poloff November 29 that the Dutch would seriously consider 
providing election observers to the OAS mission per reftel. 
Vogelaar promised to forward the request to the Dutch Embassy 
in La Paz and to the Dutch MFA office responsible for 
providing election monitors to various missions.  He 
cautioned, however, that the Swedes and Danes may be in a 
better position to provide personnel to the OAS mission than 
the Dutch given their larger representations in La Paz.  He 
added that the relatively small Dutch presence in Bolivia 
would not impede the Dutch Ambassador to Bolivia from giving 
consideration to the Bolivian government's request. 
 
3. (SBU) The Dutch regret the EU's decision to forego 
provision of election monitors to the OAS mission in Bolivia 
but find it nonetheless pragmatic.  Vogelaar explained that 
the EU has prioritized careful observation of the Venezuelan 
elections, which are taking place concurrent to the Bolivian 
elections.  Vogelaar intimated that resource constraints keep 
the EU from effectively monitoring both elections 
simultaneously. 
BLAKEMAN