VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0748/01 1130548
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 230548Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8931
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0473

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017 
TAGS: EUN ETRD KPAL PREL XG IS IR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 51262 
 
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: The GONL remains concerned about linkages in 
UNSCR 1747 between goods and financing but will work with the 
FATF to reach practical solutions.  They are eager to sign 
Open Skies Plus, are concerned that proposals for the U.S.-EU 
summit might be insufficiently ambitious or concrete, and 
hope to insert human rights language on the fight against 
terror into a summit statement.  The GONL is exploring 
sanctions, should they be needed, to further pressure Sudan. 
The Dutch oppose SADC calls to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe, 
and they believe consensus exists within the EU on this.  The 
Dutch do not expect much discussion on other issues.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) MFA Deputy Director for European Integration Marisa 
Gerards told poloff April 19 the MFA expected two issues to 
dominate the GAERC's economic agenda: a free trade agreement 
with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the U.S.-EU trade 
agenda (specifically the upcoming U.S.-EU summit).  On the 
GCC trade agreement, she said, the Netherlands is ready to 
agree to GCC demands that a political dialogue, including 
human rights, follow rather than precede a trade agreement. 
 
Transatlantic Relations/U.S.-EU Summit 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Gerards said the Netherlands is pushing for a 
political statement at the U.S.-EU Summit.  The statement 
would cover a range of human rights issues and would call for 
a "strengthening of human rights in the fight against 
terrorism."  She noted that the Netherlands did not wish to 
discuss missile defense in an EU context but felt, rather, 
that NATO is the appropriate forum. 
 
¶4. (C) Tjerk Opmeer, Senior Trade Policy Advisor at the 
Economic Ministry, told EconCouns the GONL strongly supports 
German Chancellor Merkel's proposal for a new transatlantic 
partnership.  However, the GONL remains concerned that little 
time remains before the summit and that proposals on 
regulatory reform and on further transatlantic economic 
integration may not be sufficiently ambitious and concrete. 
On WTO Doha negotiations, the Dutch recognize the benefits of 
bilateral Free Trade Agreements but continue to favor a 
multilateral approach and will push within the EU for 
completion of a Doha agreement. 
 
Iran - Implementing UNSCR resolutions 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Eric Ligthart, Deputy Director, Financial Integrity 
Unit, Ministry of Finance, told econoff the Dutch have fully 
implemented UNSCR 1737.  The Netherlands expects the EU 
Council will soon approve UNSCR 1747.  Ligthart added, 
though, that the GONL is concerned about the linakge in 1747 
between the banning of export goods and the financing of 
those goods.  While banning actual goods is fairly 
straightforward, the linkage between specific goods and 
financial services is not always clear.  This is especially 
true when a financial institution may be but one intermediary 
in a long chain of payments. UNSCR 1747 also uses broad 
language, such as "directly and indirectly," said Ligthart, 
that makes it hard for banks to identify how they will be 
held accountable for approving dual use goods or a chain 
payment. As a result, the UNSCR is requiring financial 
institutions to do what they are "unable to do," he said.  He 
added that the GONL is likely to raise these issues in the 
Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The GONL intends to work 
with the FATF to determine how UNSCR 1747 can be implemented 
and to prevent WMD financing. The Dutch will stress 
practical, workable measures for the financial sector during 
these discussions, he said. 
 
Open Skies Plus 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Econoff met April 13 with Rene Fennes, Head of Civil 
Aviation at the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Water. 
Fennes said that the Dutch would do everything possible to 
ensure that the agreement was signed by the Dutch 
Representative at the upcoming meetings in Brussels.  Fennes 
reiterated that the GONL has been a strong proponent of the 
Open Skies Plus agreement from the beginning, noting that 
they were prepared to sign previous drafts from 2005 and 
¶2006.  The overall Dutch desire for an updated transatlantic 
air agreement stems from the obvious benefits to Amsterdam 
Schiphol Airport and Air-France/KLM. 
 
Sudan - must keep up pressure on GOS 
------------------------------------ 
¶7. (SBU) MFA Deputy European Correspondent Jeroen Boender 
told poloff April 18 that the Dutch government was cautiously 
optimistic on Sudanese agreement to the heavy support 
package.  The GONL is concerned, though, that a financing gap 
will open again within a few months.  The Netherlands 
supports the U.S. and UK approach of keeping pressure on the 
Sudanese government, and it is exploring the possiblity of 
sanctions. 
 
Zimbabwe - no lifting of sanctions 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Boender said the GONL would give the Southern Africa 
Development Community's initiative time but would not 
consider lifting sanctions until concrete progress is seen on 
the ground.  He added that consensus appears to exist within 
the EU on this matter. 
 
Somalia 
------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The GAERC will likely adopt a resolution calling for 
a political solution, said Boender, but the EU at present 
"can do little."  Comment: The Dutch priority in the Horn of 
Africa remains Sudan, where they are a major donor.  End 
comment. 
 
Central Asia and Uzbekistan 
--------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The GONL, said Boender, remains concerned about 
Uzbekistan's intransigience on human rights.  They do not 
expect the issue to be raised at the GAERC, though this could 
change in light of the expulsion of the Human Rights Watch 
representative. 
 
Western Balkans 
--------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Dutch do not expect the Western Balkans to be 
on the agenda.  That said, Boender emphasized that Dutch 
support for the Ahtisaari plan remains unchanged.  Further, 
the GONL will continue to press a new Serb government to 
cooperate fully with the ICTY. 
 
Middle East Peace Process 
------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The Dutch welcome the contact between Olmert and 
Abbas.  While the Dutch position remains unchanged regarding 
travel of Palestinian officials to EU countries, Boender said 
it is unclear how other European countries will react to 
developments. 
ARNALL