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FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 000073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2020 
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN EAID AF NL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VERVEER ENGAGES DUTCH ON AFGHANISTAN, 
WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT 
 
REF: A. 09 THE HAGUE 718 
     ¶B. 09 THE HAGUE 663 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Fay Levin for reasons 1.4(b,d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's 
Issues Melanne Verveer advanced U.S. priorities in a two-day 
visit to the Netherlands January 13-14.  With Dutch cabinet 
members and working-level officials, she emphasized U.S. 
interests in maintaining the Dutch commitment to Afghanistan 
while exploring future cooperation (para 2-4).  With the 
Afghan Deputy Minister for Women's Affairs, the Ambassador 
compared notes on Afghanistan politics and expressed support 
for Kakar's efforts (para 5).  A leading women's magazine 
with a large, politically active audience will publish an 
interview with the Ambassador as its leading story (para 6). 
The Ambassador built bridges with South Asian and Dutch NGOs 
through two dinner events and a conference speech to 120 
people (para 7-9).   Ambassador's schedule is included at 
paragraph 10. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) FM VERHAGEN: Verhagen and Verveer, joined by 
Ambassador Levin, met for 30 minutes at the Dutch Foreign 
Ministry.  Verveer thanked the FM for his overall commitment 
to U.S.-Dutch relations, the Dutch-U.S. event during the UN 
General Assembly in New York in September 2009 to combat 
violence against girls, and his support for women in 
Afghanistan.   On Afghanistan, the FM noted his full support 
for participation by women representatives at the January 28 
conference in London, including a chance to address the full 
conference.  Asked about how to support a continued Dutch 
military presence in Afghanistan after 2010, Verhagen 
suggested telling Development Minister Koenders about the 
important link between the Dutch military presence and 
assisting women.  (NOTE: Verhagen supports an extension of 
the Dutch military mission, but the full Dutch government is 
still deliberating on the issue.  For background on the 
military decision by the GONL, see reftel A and B.  END 
NOTE.)  On women's issues generally, Verhagen emphasized his 
strong support for advancing women's rights, and his concern 
about responding to challenges to the universality of human 
rights based on religion.  Verhagen asked about the timing of 
U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of 
Discrimination against Women.  Verhagen also expressed his 
support for Dutch Major General Cammaert to head the UN's new 
gender entity; Verveer responded that he gave impressive 
testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 
(NOTE: Verhagen and Levin's discussion of Venezuela is 
reported separately, The Hague 42.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶3. (C) DEVELOPMENT MINISTER KOENDERS:  Koenders and 
Ambassadors Verveer and Levin met for 50 minutes at the Peace 
Palace in The Hague.  Verveer expressed appreciation for 
Dutch generosity in development aid, support for women's 
rights, and leadership in Uruzgan province Afghanistan.  On 
Afghanistan, Koenders said the Dutch would continue with a 
PRT in Afghanistan or a military deployment elsewhere in 
Afghanistan.  Koenders agreed with Levin that there is a link 
between security and development but said the "form" of Dutch 
military assistance will be different after 2010.  Security 
in Uruzgan will depend on which ISAF member state is 
providing security, and the Dutch will work with whoever is 
there.  Koenders wants to ensure, however, that the Dutch 
"3D" approach of development, diplomacy and defense 
continues.  Koenders was impressed by General McChrystal's 
emphasis on human rights and development as keys to his 
Qemphasis on human rights and development as keys to his 
success. (NOTE: This is the same position Koenders' Labor 
Party has followed over the last few months, as reported in 
reftels.  END NOTE.)  Koenders emphasized the West needs to 
empower women in Afghanistan and give them a more central 
role in development and peace-making.  More broadly, Koenders 
said he saw little difference between the Netherlands' 
approach and the American development policy described by 
Secretary Clinton on January 6.  He is "very impressed with 
the new administration" and welcomed the idea of expanding 
cooperation, especially on millennium development goals, 
reproductive rights and the UN gender entity.  Koenders 
expressed his support for Cammaert to head the UN gender 
entity. 
 
¶4. (C) WORKING-LEVEL MEETINGS AT DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTRY: In 
four meetings over four hours, Ambassador Verveer met Dutch 
MFA officials to discuss U.S. policy and explore options for 
cooperation.  (NOTE: The Netherlands is the world's sixth 
largest aid donor.  END NOTE.)  Arjan Hamburger, Human Rights 
Ambassador; Maryem van den Heuvel, Deputy Director of the 
Human Rights Department; and Senior Policy Officer Adriaan 
Versluis described the work of the MFA Human Rights Division, 
which has an 80 million euro annual budget, of which about 25 
million euros is managed by Dutch embassies.   Hamburger and 
Van den Heuvel expressed appreciation for their recent 
 
THE HAGUE 00000073  002 OF 003 
 
 
consultations in Washington concerning the Human Rights 
Council, which underscores the universality of human rights, 
which are not circumscribed by culture or religion.  Koen 
Davidse, Director of the Peacebuilding Division, noted his 
close consultations with S/CRS Ambassador Herbst.  Davidse 
wants to avoid focusing on "the last war" and plan better for 
future contingencies.  On Afghanistan, Davidse agreed 
security is a major concern but said the decision on the 
Dutch military deployment was "above (his) pay grade."  With 
the MFA Gender Division, the Dutch explained the new office 
in the Human Rights Department had been moved out of 
development cooperation to reflect the political priority and 
nature of women's issues.  With 25 MFA employees over a 
"brown bag lunch," the Ambassador described the role of her 
office, priorities for the United States, and efforts to 
improve U.S. aid planning.  Participants enthusiastically 
welcomed the presentation and shared ideas from Afghanistan, 
Rwanda, and Tanzania. 
 
¶5. (U) DEPUTY MINISTER KAKAR: In a 30-minute discussion over 
coffee, Verveer expressed support for Kakar's work.  Kakar 
was uncertain about prospects for President Karzai winning 
approval of his most recent cabinet nominees. 
 
¶6. (U) PRESS INTERVIEW: Ambassador Verveer spoke with the 
Chief Editor of women's magazine Opzij (circulation 85,000). 
 Opzij is the only Dutch opinion monthly for women.  Its 
readership is predominantly well educated and economically 
well off women ages 25-50.  Post expects the interview to be 
published as its leading story in February. 
¶7. (U) DINNER AT PARLIAMENT: Ambassador Verveer attended a 
dinner hosted in the Dutch parliament cafeteria by Chantal 
Gill'ard, Labor Party MP, for Dutch MPs and South Asian 
delegates in town for an Afghanistan conference.  While MP 
attendance was limited by a developing Dutch cabinet crisis, 
Ambassador Verveer enjoyed the opportunity for candid 
conversations in an informal setting with the conference 
delegates, some of whom she knew from Afghanistan. 
 
¶8. (U) "FLASH POINT" CONFERENCE: Before an audience of 
approximately 120 representatives from NGOs, the diplomatic 
corps, and Dutch officials, Ambassador Verveer gave a keynote 
address on the "global context" of advancing the position of 
women in political, social and economic terms.  Minister 
Koenders opened the conference, entitled "Women at the Flash 
Point: 2010 and Beyond, Women's Voices from Afghanistan and 
the Neighboring Countries," followed by speeches from 
Ambassador Verveer and Deputy Minister Kakar.  The conference 
then included two panel discussions -- the first with women 
delegates from South Asia, and the second with Ambassadors 
from the UK, Pakistan, Australia posted to The Hague.  Dutch 
MP Chantal Gill'ard gave concluding remarks.  More details 
about the conference are available from Embassy The Hague and 
the conference sponsor, Gender Concerns International, at: 
www.genderconcerns.org. 
 
¶9. (U) DINNER WITH LEADING DUTCH WOMEN: Amsterdam CG hosted a 
dinner in Ambassador Verveer's honor with eight leading women 
in Dutch politics, civil society, and academia (participants 
listed in para 10, biographies and further information 
available from Embassy The Hague).  They exchanged views on 
how the role of women differs across cultures, and the 
opportunities and challenges to women's empowerment that 
those cultural differences engender.   Arinda Callewaert, 
Chairman of the Christian Democratic Women's organization, 
noted that the Christian Democratic Appeal (the leading Dutch 
Qnoted that the Christian Democratic Appeal (the leading Dutch 
political party that her organization represents) retains a 
difficult, patriarchal hierarchy for women leaders to access. 
 Turkish-born lawyer Famile Arslan and Iraqi-born lawyer 
Laila al-Zwaini noted the cultural challenges that 
career-oriented Muslim women continue to face -- whether in 
the Middle East or Western Europe -- but welcomed the great 
strides that they had made in recent years.  The guests 
agreed with Ambassador Verveer on the importance of promoting 
women's rights and economic empowerment around the world, and 
they briefed her on their organizations' work in these areas. 
 
¶10. (U) AMBASSADOR VERVEER SCHEDULE: 
 
Wednesday, January 13 
--------------------- 
 
Discussion with Dutch MFA employees, "The importance of 
gender in U.S. foreign policy" 
 
Arjan Hamburger, Human Rights Ambassador, and 
Maryem van den Heuvel, Deputy Director of Human Rights 
Division 
 
Koen Davidse, Director of Peacebuilding Division 
 
 
THE HAGUE 00000073  003 OF 003 
 
 
Discussion with Dutch MFA Gender Division 
 
Dinner with Chantal Gill'ard, Labor Party MP & 
representatives from South Asia participating in a conference 
the next day 
 
Thursday, January 14 
------------------- 
 
Afghan Deputy Minister for Women's Affairs Palwasha Kakar 
 
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen 
 
Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation Bert Koenders 
 
Speech at "Flash Point" Conference on Women in Afghanistan 
 
Press Interview 
 
Dinner with leading Dutch women: 
 
--Daphne Riupassa, Director, PaFemme 
--Arinda Callewaert, Chair, Christian Democrats Women's 
Council 
--Marije Laffeber, International Secretary, Dutch Labor Party 
--Laila al Zwaini, Dutch-Iraqi lawyer, human rights advocate 
--Famile Arslan, Dutch-Turkish lawyer, womens' rights advocate 
--Petra Stienen, former Dutch diplomat 
--Jannet Vaessen, managing director of WOMEN Inc 
--Gloria Wekker, Professor of Gender Studies, Utrecht 
University 
LEVIN