US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE3240

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 003240 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MARR, NL, AF, NATO 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ISAF: PM FAILS TO ALLAY CABINET 
CONCERNS 
 
Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Chat Blakeman, 
reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: PM Balkenende was unable win full Cabinet 
support December 2 for Dutch plans to participate in ISAF 
Stage III, a setback that surprised many who thought the 
Dutch leadership had answered most political concerns after 
meetings this week with Assistant Secretaries Fried and Flory 
and SACEUR Gen. Jones.  The Cabinet will revisit the issue at 
the next Cabinet meeting on December 9.  MFA sources said 
Foreign Minister Bot hopes to discuss the issue with U/S 
Burns and A/S Fried at the OSCE Ministerial in Ljubljana 
December 5 and with the Secretary at the NAC Ministerial 
December 8-9.  Balkenende sought to downplay the setback.  He 
told reporters after Cabinet that "a lot of headway" has been 
made "but it is a complicated issue and we are not going to 
take this decision hastily."  End summary. 
 
Cabinet Doubts 
-------------- 
 
2. (C) National Security Advisor Rob Swartbol and MFA Deputy 
Director General for Political Affairs Peter de Gooijer 
reported the same account of the Cabinet meeting: Bot and 
Defense Minister Kamp presented a joint statement supporting 
deployment; Balkenende concurred.  After lengthy discussion, 
several of the 16 Cabinet members expressed skepticism -- 
including Interior Minister Remkes and both D-66 Cabinet 
members, Minister of Economic Affairs Brinkhorst and Minister 
for Kingdom Affairs and Government Reform Pectold.  Swartbol 
and de Gooijer suggested some members questioned why Kamp and 
Balkenende had earlier opposed but now supported the 
deployment, and needed more time to consider the issue. 
 
3. (C) Swartbol and de Gooijer also said cost-sharing of 
maintenance and repair at Kandahar airport and security 
concerns figured prominently in the discussion.  But they 
said the most contentious issue involved the treatment of 
prisoners captured in Uruzghan, where the Dutch are to 
deploy.  Several members pushed for stronger assurances that 
prisoners would be turned over to Afghan authorities, and 
detained in facilities that meet international human rights 
standards, with full access allowed to the ICRC. 
 
4. (C) Both also noted that the Cabinet will continue 
discussion of the deployment at its next meeting December 9. 
MFA Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Division Joop 
Nijssen said the meeting will include a military briefing on 
the feasibility of the mission, followed by a report from Bot 
on the results of the NAC Ministerial.  He said Bot will push 
for strong assurances in Brussels on detainees and 
cost-sharing at Kandahar airport, but now lacks the political 
mandate to give NATO a positive response in the event these 
issues are resolved.  De Gooijer added that Bot's 
consultations in Ljubljana and Brussels now take on greater 
importance. 
 
Balkenende Comments 
------------------- 
 
5. (U) Following the Cabinet meeting Balkenende told 
reporters "in many areas we made headway.  However, several 
issues remain to be resolved."  He told national television: 
"No decision was made this afternoon.  It is a complex 
consideration.  And the Cabinet has to be cautious and look 
at all factors."  He added: "This concerns a NATO operation, 
not an American operation.  There are more countries 
involved."  He was asked whether the Netherlands could back 
away from the deployment -- "No commitment has been made. 
The Cabinet will make a decision and then Parliament." 
 
To Be Continued 
--------------- 
 
6. (C) News of sharp and vocal disagreement within Cabinet 
comes as something of a surprise.  On the eve of the meeting, 
Dutch officials here and in Brussels repeatedly pointed to 
assurances made by the November 30 delegation led by A/S 
Fried and ASD Flory -- and results from the SACEUR Gen. Jones 
and Dutch CHOD Gen. Berlijn December 1 meeting -- as tipping 
the scales in favor of deployment.  Even media reports made 
an "about face" in the past few days, reporting that Cabinet 
now favored the mission.  Although final Cabinet approval was 
never foreseen before December 9, a weakened Bot will now go 
to the NAC ministerial without a clear political mandate. 
The opposition of both D-66 Cabinet members also indicates a 
difference of opinion within the governing coalition -- not 
just with the opposition Labor Party (PvdA).  However, the 
decision today was not a "no" -- delayed discussion leaves 
open the door that Cabinet might still approve the deployment. 
 
BLAKEMAN