Senior diplomat says the Netherlands is too passive on foreign affairs
Friday 07 September 2012
The Netherlands is losing face internationally because of its passive approach to foreign affairs and mixed messages on Europe, a senior diplomat claims in Friday’s NRC.
Pieter Feith, who stands down as the ICO representative in Kosovo this weekend, told the paper the Netherlands has ‘fallen behind’ in diplomatic circles.
‘Foreign affairs minister Uri Rosenthal says the Netherlands does not want to be the EU’s pet. But in that case, you have to be active yourself. You have to come up with ideas and take initiatives, you have to have a presence.’ Feith said. ‘
Take Sweden, which is professional and serious,' he continued. 'I think the Netherlands has fallen behind in terms of diplomacy.'
‘Internationally, people ask what the Netherlands actually wants,’ the NRC quoted Feith as saying. ‘With Greece, the euro, Serbia. You can no longer count on 100% consistency in our policy. Every country changes course on occasion but our country is heading off at top speed in lots of different directions.’
The ICO is an international body which supports Kosovo's efforts to become independent within Europe.
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© DutchNews.nl
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A welcome suggestion on the very day that Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Iran, closed its Tehran Embassy and threw the Iranian diplomats out of Ottawa.
By Albert Jacobs | 7 September 2012 4:34 PMDiplomacy is all very nice, but it only goes so far.
I do agree. But, again, can anyone really be surprised? We had 2 years of Rutte under Wilders. This is just another example (as if we needed it) that our prior government has failed utterly and completely in everything it has done- basically because it was driven only by personal ambition and has has been incredibly capricious. I hope the 12 september will bring a new dawn...
By the_expat | 7 September 2012 5:40 PMnederland should have stuck with England from the beginning and never gotten into this messy euro thing
By roelie haveman | 8 September 2012 2:24 AMI completely agree with. Its enough if one only have a look at the political issues from the last months. The Netherlands do not even have a straight political curse. The party is just against everything. If one looks how much changes in Germany from August-they changed laws and simplified so many things around work permits for foreigners and here is still been discussed about anti-Europe! Very bad politic in general!
By yesee | 8 September 2012 10:01 PM