VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0269/01 1141550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241550Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2785
INFO RUCNSTF/TERRORISM FINANCE PRE NOTIFICATION COLLECTIVE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000269 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/TERRORISM FINANCE: MAY 25 SEMINAR ON 
 
REFORMING THE UN DESIGNATION PROCESS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
¶1. (U) This message contains an action request; see paragraph 
¶7. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 
will host a multilateral seminar May 25 in The Hague titled: 
"Improving the Effectiveness and Legitimacy of UN Targeted 
Sanctions."  The objective is to advance the initiative 
championed by the Netherlands and several like-minded 
countries to establish a review or advisory panel at the 
United Nations to examine Security Council sanctions 
committee decisions.  The Dutch will invite the U.S. 
government to attend the seminar and would welcome a USG 
speaker.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
WHY THIS SEMINAR NOW? 
--------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Netherlands, along with Denmark, Germany, 
Liechtenstein, Sweden, and Switzerland, held an open meeting 
at the UN on June 13, 2008, to lobby for an independent panel 
to review UN sanctions designations.  Although the 1267 
Committee rejected the proposal at the time, the GONL has 
continued to pursue the idea and has actively sought the 
backing of other countries.  Our MFA terrorism finance 
contact told us that Belgium, Costa Rica, Norway, Finland, 
Greece, and Canada have indicated some level of support for 
the panel concept.  By convening this seminar on May 25, the 
GONL hopes to build momentum on this issue leading into the 
U.S.-EU Terrorism Finance Troika later the same week in 
Prague.  The GONL knows the USG has opposed the establishment 
of a review panel but still wants the USG to attend the 
seminar. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The MFA contact emphasized the GONL favors an 
independent "advisory" -- not "review" -- panel and is open 
to compromise on whether its recommendations would be 
binding.  She said the like-minded countries are debating 
what the panel's purview should be, with some early 
proponents (e.g. Sweden) less willing to compromise. The 
Dutch have suggested "quasi-binding" language, which would 
allow the Security Council to overrule panel recommendations. 
 The group is also still discussing the panel's composition 
-- possibly 15 seats with 3-member units to review individual 
cases. 
 
------------- 
EVENT DETAILS 
------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Dutch MFA, Finance Ministry, Justice Ministry, 
and NCTb (national counter-terrorism coordination office) 
will take part in the seminar.  It will be at the working 
level and several participants are expected to continue on to 
Prague for the U.S.-EU terrorism finance workshop.  A 
non-paper to be distributed beforehand has been drafted, but 
the like-minded group has not yet reached final agreement on 
it. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The seminar will run from 14:00 to 18:00 on Monday, 
May 25 (Memorial Day), followed by a reception.  An academic 
authority on sanctions will kick-off the program, to be 
followed by practitioners including a 1267 Committee 
representative.  The organizers will accommodate a USG 
speaker if desired.  In addition to like-minded countries and 
the United States, the GONL plans to invite the other UNSC 
members, the EU, and the UN 1267 and Counter-Terrorism 
Committees.  The Dutch also want to convene a drafting 
session Tuesday morning May 26, which will not appear on the 
program, for like-minded countries to work on concrete next 
steps to advance the proposal at UN. 
 
-------------------------- 
COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Netherlands is a stalwart ally in combating 
terrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the 
Qterrorist financing, but the GONL puts great stock in the 
importance of a functional delisting process.  We may 
disagree on how to achieve this goal, but the Dutch and their 
like-minded partners are not letting go of the advisory panel 
initiative.  USG attendance at the May 25 seminar will, at a 
minimum, allow us to hear what this group has in store for 
this issue -- one that will likely gather momentum after 
Sweden assumes the EU presidency in July.  Post welcomes 
interagency participants to The Hague for this event.  Post 
requests clarification and guidance before May 25 as to the 
 
current U.S. policy position on reforming the UN terrorism 
designation process.  END COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST. 
 
GALLAGHER