VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0054/01 0231134
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231134Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2447
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1840
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000054 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EU NL CZ
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH PRIORITIES FOR JANUARY GAERC 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 4297 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 5430 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 
1.5(b,d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The Dutch are looking to reactivate the EU 
border mission in support of Israel-Palestine peace 
negotiations.  On Guantanamo, the EU will consider a common 
position, but the Dutch are not willing to accept detainees. 
On Ukraine/Russia, the Dutch will support continued 
negotiations, including a dialogue with Russia on human 
rights, while at the same time supporting efforts to improve 
energy security.  In the Balkans, the Dutch do not want EU 
discussions to give Montenegro the impression its membership 
application is moving forward.  Similarly, for the planned EU 
Eastern Partnership Summit, the Dutch want to avoid raising 
false expectations.  Also in The Hague, Czech D/PM Vondra 
reviewed Czech priorities for the EU in a speech on January 
20, and Embassy The Hague staff met with Czech counterparts 
to discuss their agenda.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Middle East: Embassy The Hague delivered reftel A 
and B points to key Dutch MFA contacts.  In a January 21 
briefing for allied diplomats, Deputy EU Correspondent Rochus 
Pronk noted the Middle East peace negotiations would be the 
primary focus of meetings in Brussels January 26-27.  EU FMs 
would also see Israel FM Livni on January 21 and Arab FMs on 
January 25.  Working with the Danish, the Dutch aim to 
reactivate the EU border mission.  They do not expect an EU 
decision on that proposal on the 26th, although the EU could 
approve a related fact-finding mission. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Guantanamo: Pronk stated the EU was not likely to 
approve conclusions on Guantanamo but will discuss whether 
the EU could support a common position.  The Dutch are not 
willing to accept detainees but will consider helping with 
repatriation efforts.  The Dutch MFA has made similar public 
statements to the Dutch parliament over the last week. 
(Note: Some opposition parliamentarians appear willing to 
accept detainees, but the ruling coalition parties supported 
the MFA position in a January 22 debate. End Note.) 
 
¶4. (C) Ukraine-Russia:  Pronk stated the Dutch want to 
continue negotiations with Russia, including a dialogue on 
human rights.  Although Pronk does not expect GAERC 
conclusions, the EU may consider efforts to boost energy 
security.  Cees Bansema, head of the MFA EU internal affairs 
division and also briefing allied diplomats with Pronk, noted 
the Dutch would continue to push for increased gas 
"connectivity" and efforts to diversify fuel sources.  In an 
aside, however, Bansema noted these efforts don't "resolve 
Russia's unfair game." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Balkans:  Pronk was unsure of the Czech presidency's 
plans on the Balkans -- Kosovo was on the agenda, then off -- 
but he understood the EU may consider Montenegro's December 
15 application before the EU and ask for a formal opinion on 
the application.  The Dutch would oppose that move as 
premature, believing the EU should focus on the current 
"association relationship." 
 
¶6. (U) Eastern Partnership:  Similarly, Bansema noted the 
Netherlands supports engaging Europe's neighbors, as the 
Czechs have proposed for their May 7 Eastern Partnership 
Summit, but they do not want to create false expectations 
that these meetings will lead to EU accession.  In addition, 
the Dutch do not want to increase the planned budget for 
engaging with Eastern Europe. 
 
¶7. (U) Visit of Czech D/PM Vondra:  Speaking to roughly 100 
diplomats and academics in The Hague on January 20, Czech 
Qdiplomats and academics in The Hague on January 20, Czech 
D/PM Vondra outlined his nation's agenda for the EU 
presidency, including the "3 Es" theme of economy, energy, 
and external relations.  Dutch MFA State Secretary for 
European Affairs responded with praise for Vondra's 
experience as a dissident during Soviet times, and by noting 
Dutch support for Czech priorities.  At the same time, 
Timmermans would have added a "fourth E," for the environment 
and global warming, "the existential challenge of our times." 
  Vondra and Timmermans acknowledged relative Czech 
enthusiasm and Dutch caution on the issue of EU enlargement. 
 
¶8. (U) Czech diplomats in The Hague: The Czech DCM, political 
officer and economic officer met with econ head, poldep, and 
econoff on January 9 to discuss priorities for the EU 
presidency.  Regarding policy, the Czechs expect Dutch 
support on many issues, including human rights and a planned 
EU-Israel Summit.  However, the Czechs disagree with the 
Dutch opposition to closer EU ties to Serbia pending Serbian 
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
former Yugoslavia.  The Czechs were not sure how hard the 
Czech leadership would push the Netherlands on this issue, 
but the Czech team in The Hague is "not pushing really hard." 
 Also on Eastern Europe, the Czechs would support an offer of 
a NATO Membership Action Plan for Ukraine and Georgia, but 
"Germany would block" that effort.  The Czechs would like to 
see the accession of Croatia as soon as possible, but the 
bilateral dispute between Slovenia and Croatia will probably 
delay that effort until after Sweden's EU presidency.   On 
Russia, the Czechs may take a more critical line than the 
Netherlands.  On Cuba, the Czechs are considering a visit by 
their FM to Havana, or a side meeting during the Rio Group 
gathering.  At the same time, the Czechs are willing to 
return to sanctions against the regime depending on the EU 
policy assessment in June.   Czech President Klaus plans to 
visit the Netherlands in March, on travel unrelated to the EU 
presidency.  The Czechs hope for an early April visit to 
Prague by the POTUS. 
GALLAGHER