VZCZCXRO6488
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHTC #1153 1661215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151215Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9511
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EUN ENRG ETRD ETTC KPAL PARM PGOV SOCI
CU, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: JUNE GAERC PRE-BRIEF 
 
REF: STATE 80034 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Dutch eagerly await details of the 
German proposal for a European treaty.  Barring sufficient 
changes in size, form, and content, a new treaty is unlikely 
to win passage in the Netherlands.  The Dutch hope for a 
robust Sudan sanctions package from the UN but are prepared 
to go the EU route as an alternative.  They continue to view 
the temporary mechanism as the only viable means of providing 
assistance to the Palestinian people but are not confident 
their views will prevail in the Council conclusions.  The 
Dutch advocate delaying a resolution on the death penalty. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Poloff delivered reftel points June 12 to MFA Deputy 
European Correspondent Rochus Pronk.  On June 13, Pronk and 
MFA Director for European Integration, Kees van Rij, 
delivered MFA's monthly pre-GAERC briefing for non-EU 
diplomatic missions.  Poloff and intern attended. 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to van Rij, the Dutch favor plans for 
third country migration agreements now under consideration 
but would like to see more detail.  The Dutch do not expect 
the Council to reach a final decision. 
 
¶4. (SBU) On the European treaty, van Rij emphasized, the GONL 
cannot send to parliament any new document unless it is 
substantially different in size, format and content from the 
existing European Constitution treaty.  The GONL hopes that 
enough issues of size and format can be resolved by the 
Council to allow the IGC to focus on substance.  (Comment: A 
treaty would go either to the Dutch parliament or to a 
referendum.  Most observers agree that a referendum would 
again fail and that the government would collapse.  End 
comment.) 
 
¶3. (SBU) Pronk briefed on external political affairs: 
 
Cuba: Pronk predicted the EU would maintain the restrictive 
measures and invite the Cubans to Brussels.  He said, though, 
that a failure by the Cubans to accept the invitation could 
lead to a reassessment of the measures' effectiveness at the 
next Council (December). 
 
Western Balkans: The Dutch are pleasantly surprised by 
Serbia's new level of cooperation with the ICTY.  Pronk 
maintained, however, that the GONL would continue to insist 
on full compliance as a pre-condition to an accession 
agreement. 
 
Middle East: The Dutch continue to believe that the temporary 
mechanism is the only viable instrument for providing basic 
support to the Palestinian people.  They are uncertain how 
the Council conclusions will look.  Pronk said the GONL 
firmly supports the U.S. initiative for a June 26 joint 
Quartet meeting. 
 
Sudan: Pronk said that, although President Bashir has 
accepted a UN-AU hybrid mission, sanctions should stay on the 
table and that pressure should continue to be placed on the 
Sudanese government.  The Dutch continue to express their 
preference for a UN sanctions regime, but continue to say 
that should the UN fail to pass such a package, EU sanctions 
are their "plan B."  According to Pronk, "plan C" still does 
not exist. 
 
Moratorium on the Death Penalty: The Dutch are concerned that 
a resolution will fall roughly 29 votes short of the majority 
97 needed.  They are, according to Pronk, advocating 
continued lobbying rather than a resolution now. 
ARNALL