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428081165
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Telcon with Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers of the Netherlands, October 26, 1990
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428081165
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document
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Telcon with Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers of the Netherlands, October 26, 1990
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Records of the National Security Council (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Presidential Telcon Files
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Netherlands
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428081165
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26
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1990-10-26
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10
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1990
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CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
9291
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Telcon with Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers
of the Netherlands (U)
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister
Notetaker: Robert Hutchings, NSC Staff
DATE, TIME
October 26, 1990, 4:27 - 4:40 p.m.
AND PLACE:
The Oval Office
The President: Ruud, how are you? (U)
Prime Minister Lubbers: Excellent. How are you? (U)
The President: Good. I am out in California, but I wanted to
call on two matters. I just wanted to say that I was glad you
did not fall into Saddam Hussein's propaganda ploy with the
hostages. He is handing these people out like candy, and we
should have no part of it. We had some groups go out there, but
there was no government role. Hans van den Broek's rejection of
the idea of travelling to Baghdad sets a wonderful example.
Mulroney told me he had the same offer from Iraq. So did Hans-
Dietrich Genscher. So I wanted to congratulate you for your
stand. ()
The other item is that we have a lot of work ahead of us, and not
much time, if we are to have a successful Uruguay Round. It is
important that we make real progress on agriculture. I worry
that if we don't, protectionism will get a new lease on life. We
have put forward more flexible positions, and I hope you will do
all you can to persuade the EC to do the same. (&)
Prime Minister Lubbers: I agree with you. We have a problem
over here. We have a mandate, which is not just our position.
The FRG is dragging its feet. I expected it of the French but
not the Germans. (e)
The President: I was told that. I just called Kohl, who said he
would help. The last point: on the EC meeting, it is my strong
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassify on: OADR
DECLASSIFIED
PER E.O. 12958,
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AS AMENDED
or 8/21/2009
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2
hope that the EC does not pass a resolution on the Middle East
that will blend the Gulf situation together with the Palestine
Question. Some day there will be a Palestine conference, which
the U.S. will support, but I believe that Saddam Hussein is
trying to negate the pressure against him by bringing in the
Palestinian issue so the coalition will fall apart. So I wanted
to urge you not to go along with any EC call. That's my appeal.
(L)
Prime Minister Lubbers: There is a risk going around in Europe -
- a real risk with the Italians and the French. Kohl understands
we can't link the two. We discussed the issue here in a Cabinet
meeting. We will take a firm position not to go along. (Ω)
The President: Good. I'll talk to Andreotti in a few minutes.
(l)
Prime Minister Lubbers: One other thing: on the oil problem, we
have to think further after the Gulf crisis. I don't know how
you feel, but I think it would be worthwhile to talk about new
links between oil suppliers and oil consumers, between the Arabs
and ourselves -- not now, but at a certain point this link could
avoid new tensions in the future. (¢)
The President: I'd be interested in hearing your views. I
haven't thought about that particular issue, but I think you are
right. (&)
Prime Minister Lubbers: I handed you a paper once on energy
cooperation. The Russians are interested. We are not looking
for a mechanism to fix prices, but to eliminate the extreme
fluctuations -- specifically between IEA and OPEC. I think this
idea will get more and more support, at least in Europe. It is
better than linking the Gulf situation to Jerusalem and the West
Bank and all that. (C)
The President: It is true in the Arab world, with the tensions
between the haves and the have nots. (C)
Prime Minister Lubbers: And in the Third World, too. So I have
a feeling this idea will come again. (e)
The President: I'm interested in knowing more. Let's stay in
touch. Will you discuss this in the EC? (C)
Prime Minister Lubbers: We will very carefully discuss it. We
want to avoid the idea that we are trying to fix prices. The
second risk is that this would be viewed as the solution to the
Gulf. It is not that. (C)
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The President: I appreciate the talk. I'll give Andreotti a
call. It might help. (f)
Prime Minister Lubbers: We will work together. Give my best to
Bar. (U)
The President: Will do. Thanks, Ruud. It was nice talking with
you. (U)
-- End of Conversation --
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