DUTCH GOVERNMENT NOTIFIED OF SOESTERBERG

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001678

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EUR, PM, EUR/RPM, EUR/UBI


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2010
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NL NATO
SUBJECT: DUTCH GOVERNMENT NOTIFIED OF SOESTERBERG
FACILITIES CLOSURE


REF: SECSTATE 100360


CLASSIFIED BY POLCOUNS STEPHEN R. KELLY; REASONS 1.5 (B,D).


1.(C) EMBASSY DELIVERED REFTEL NOTIFICATION TO THE
NETHERLANDS MFA ON 6/5. TO DATE, THE MFA HAS MADE NO COMMENT
ON THE NOTIFICATION.


2.(SBU) COMMENT IN OTHER FORA ABOUT PREVIOUSLY HELD INFORMAL
CONSULTATIONS REGARDING THE SOESTERBERG FACILITY TERMINATION
HAS BEEN LIMITED. ON MAY 17, IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO A
LETTER EARLIER SUBMITTED TO THE MOD BY VVD DEFENSE
SPOKERPERSON THEO VAN DEN DOEL, STATE SECRETARY FOR DEFENSE
HENK VAN HOOF INFORMED THE PARLIAMENT THAT HE HAD BEEN
"INFORMED ORALLY BY THE U.S. ON MAY 4 THAT THE COB STATUS OF
SOESTERBERG AIR BASE HAD EXPIRED. THE PROMISE WAS MADE THAT
THIS WOULD SOON BE CONFIRMED IN WRITING. NOW THAT THE COB
STATUS HAS EXPIRED, THE NUMBER OF FLIGHT MOVEMENTS RESERVED
FOR JET FIGHTERS HAS BEEN CANCELLED...SINCE THE AIRBASE WILL
REMAIN OPEN, THE REQUIRED AND EXISTING FACILITIES TO KEEP IT
OPEN MUST BE MAINTAINED. THE BULK OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE'S
FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER
DESTINATION SINCE THE AMERICAN UNIT LEFT. SOESTERBERG AIR
BASE WILL REMAIN THE HOME BASE OF TWO (DUTCH) TRANSPORT
HELICOPTER SQUADRONS AND A RESERVE BASE FOR DUTCH F-16'S."
FENDRICK