Cablegate: Netherlands/Human Rights Council: Support for U.S.

VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTC #0572 2641413
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 211413Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3288
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1443
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4594

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000572

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019
TAGS: UN PHUM PREL NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SUPPORT FOR U.S.
VIEWS

REF: A. SECSTATE 93374
B. 2008 THE HAGUE 757

Classified By: ...

226166

2009-09-21

09THEHAGUE572

Embassy The Hague

CONFIDENTIAL

08THEHAGUE757|09SECSTATE93374

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000572

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2019
TAGS: UN PHUM PREL NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: SUPPORT FOR U.S.
VIEWS

REF: A. SECSTATE 93374
B. 2008 THE HAGUE 757

Classified By: POLECON Counselor Andrew C. Mann for reasons 1.5(b,c)

1. (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch generally share U.S. views on the
agenda items for the 12th session of the Human Rights
Council (HRC). The Dutch are concerned about how to respond
to Judge Goldstone's report on Israel and Russia's proposal
to review the HRC process. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) DUTCH SUPPORT FOR U.S. POSITIONS: Post delivered
reftel A points to key Dutch MFA contacts, and Pol Deputy met
with Edwin Keijzer, senior policy officer in the MFA Human
Rights Directorate, on September 16. Keijzer made the
following points:

-- Freedom of Expression: The Dutch do not want the freedom
of expression resolution to hinder the Allied response to the
Goldstone report, a higher profile political problem (see
para 3 below). On the substance, the Dutch are willing to
support U.S. efforts to find consensus but want wording on
part 3bis that could create human rights for a religion.
In addition, the Dutch want to find language to broaden the
scope of coverage and prevent discrimination based on sexual
orientation, not just race and religion. Such language would
need to be general in nature to avoid creating opposition.

-- Colombia resolution on gender discrimination: The EU has
not reached consensus on this resolution. The Dutch hesitate
to create a new institution but want to respond to the new
laws some nations have enacted in support of discrimination.
The Dutch expect to follow the EU position, which will likely
support the resolution.

-- Technical Assistance to Burundi, Somalia, Cambodia: The
Dutch support the renewal of these technical assistance
mandates. For Somalia, it is important to have a clear
mandate with monitoring.

-- Russian Proposal on traditional values: The Dutch agree
the Russian proposal could be problematic in that it could
easily water down universal human rights. The Dutch would
need revised text to address that issue before supporting the
measure.

3. (C) DUTCH CONCERNS: Keijzer noted also that the Allied
response to the Goldstone report will be difficult.
Pakistan's proposed resolution to simply accept the content
and recommendation of the report is difficult to challenge.
(Note: Subsequently, FM Verhagen stated publicly that he
found the Goldstone report one sided, in that it finds
fault with Israel for not stopping violations by Hamas.
Verhagen also faults Goldstone for not bringing the report to
the HRC before passing it to the Security Council. End
note.) The report could result in ICC and ICJ referrals for
Israel. In addition, the Dutch are concerned about a Russian
proposal to review the HRC in Geneva. Responding to a
demarche, the Dutch told Russian diplomats that a Geneva
discussion would be too regional, with splits among the
different regions. The Dutch did not tell the Russians their
view that a New York discussion would provide for a better
balance of power for proponents of human rights.
LEVIN

© Scoop Media