VZCZCXRO6356
OO RUEHAG RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTC #0763/01 0971603
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071603Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5347
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0284
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0183
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 1112
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0289
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0419

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000763 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2011 
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD EUN YI MW SR BK BO IR UP SY
LE, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF 
THE APRIL 10 GAERC 
 
REF: A. A) STATE 53022 
 
     ¶B. B) STATE 55459 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew J. Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) a 
nd (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Poloff delivered reftel demarche April 7 to 
MFA European Correspondent Desiree Kopmels and Deputy 
Correspondent Bahia Tahzib-Lie.  The Dutch do not expect the 
Balkans to be on the GAERC agenda and are content to let UN 
Special Envoy Ahtisaari set the pace for future status talks. 
 On Belarus, the GONL is "very pleased" that the EU will 
issue a visa ban on 31 Belarusian government individuals, but 
is skeptical about the political and technical feasibility of 
an asset freeze.   The Dutch remain opposed to opening 
discussions with Ukraine on EU accession. With regard to 
Iran, the Dutch will support continuing EU pressure but want 
to know how far the U.S. is willing to go.  The GONL will 
press for tougher EU guidelines on contacts with Hamas while 
finding ways to maintain provisions for basic needs.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Balkans 
------- 
 
¶2. (C) Kopmels said that the Balkans would not be on the 
GAERC agenda.  With regard to Kosovo, she noted that the GONL 
was content to allow UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari to decide on 
the timing for expanding the scope of status talks.  She 
added that the Dutch want to ensure that minority rights and 
minority returns are both given due attention and that the 
latter does not crowd out the former.  On ICTY cooperation, 
she said that the GONL would support the "tribunal," if it 
decided to cease negotiations with Belgrade on the handover 
of Mladic and others, were that decision based on a finding 
of insufficient progress.  (Note: The prosecutor would 
actually make this decision.  End note.) 
 
Belarus 
------- 
 
¶3. (C) The GONL is "very pleased," Kopmels said, that the 
GAERC will take a decision on a visa ban list of 31 
individuals, including Belarusian President Lukashenko.  The 
GONL is irritated that there was, until late in the week, an 
apparent lack of urgency on the part of some in the EU to 
place the issue on the agenda.  She said the GONL had not 
decided whether to point fingers but would probably not do 
so. 
 
¶4. (C) The MFA is interested in asset freezes, according to 
Kopmels, and would like to include a significant share of 
those individuals who are on the list of 31.  She believes, 
though, that, for a variety of reasons, freezes are unlikely 
to gain full GONL or EU support. 
 
¶5. (C) The GONL would like to redirect some TACIS funding, in 
order to provide aid directly to pro-democracy elements. 
TACIS funding must be approved by the host country government. 
 
Ukraine 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) The GONL is pleased with the conduct of the Ukrainian 
elections and is watching closely the formation of a new 
government.  The GONL remains firmly opposed, however, to 
discussion at this time of Ukrainian EU membership, she said. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
¶7. (C) Kopmels said the GONL welcomes the UNSC and P-5 plus 
Germany statements.  It expects this and the question of 
human rights to figure prominently in the GAERC.  She asked 
how far the U.S. will push on Iran.  She noted that, within 
the Dutch MFA, there is a feeling that, if the U.S. is not 
willing, at some point, to push for sanctions, then pursuing 
the matter in the UNSC may prove hollow and 
counterproductive.  She noted that both Germany and Russia 
had urged the U.S. to hold discussions with the Iranians and 
asked what we thought about the matter. 
 
MEPP 
---- 
 
THE HAGUE 00000763  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (C) The GONL will push for EU guidelines on contact with 
Hamas.  Kopmels said that the Dutch are in favor of 
continuing the provision of basic needs.  Hamas should, she 
said, be cut out of the financial loop.  Contacts with 
President Mahmoud Abbas could, however, continue.  The GONL 
will push also for EU pressure on Israel regarding VAT and 
customs payments and Gaza border closings. 
 
Lebanon/Syria 
------------- 
 
¶9. (C) Lebanon and Syria will not be on the agenda, according 
to Kopmels. 
ARNALL