THE HAGUE, 22/02/03 - The caretaker cabinet did not take a decision on Friday on what to do with the two motions on aliens policy adopted by the Lower House last Thursday. The government said it is taking both motions seriously and will to try to find harmony between them.

Following the weekly cabinet meeting, Immigration Minister Hilbrand Nawijn on Friday described the two motions as "A bit contradictory". Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner jokingly pointed out that this was an understatement: "Only a bit?"

The Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) motion urges the government for a one-off arrangement giving residence permits to some 2,300 asylum seekers who have waited for five years for the result of their first request for asylum. They must have a reasonable command of the Dutch language, not have a criminal record and come from a country where human rights where recently violated or where there is war.

The second motion, put forward by the Christian democrats (CDA), on the other hand calls on the government to keep to its coalition manifesto, which reads that only highly exceptional cases warrant a deviation from policy. The contradictory resolutions both obtained a majority through support from Labour (PvdA).

Donner said Friday the cabinet is to make a thorough assessment of how the wishes of the House may be united. He and the LPF motion's father Nawijn will send a letter to the House in the coming week. Donner (CDA) declined to say whether and how the subject is to be included in the coalition talks between CDA and PvdA, which he is currently leading as 'informateur' - together with Frans Leijnse (PvdA).

LPF party leader Mat Herben had threatened on Thursday to withdraw his cabinet members if the government were to ignore his party's motion. LPF Transport Minister Roelf de Boer was unpleasantly surprised and said he himself would decide on his position. Herben then modified his declaration, saying he had meant that the whole caretaker government should step down if it rejected the aliens plan. A cabinet resigning twice would be unique in parliamentary history.

GroenLinks will recall the Lower House from its spring recess next week for an emergency debate on the cabinet's decision to only study the LPF motion. The party considers it a "rubbish excuse" for the government to postpone the matter.