MARITIME COUNTERNARCOTICS AGREEMENT

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001824

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR L/OES, INL/LP AND WHA/CAR
USCG WASHDC FOR LT BRAD KIESERMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA SNAR PHSA EWWT EAIR JM NL
SUBJECT: MARITIME COUNTERNARCOTICS AGREEMENT

REF: KINGSTON 1948


1. With respect to reftel, Embassy's Global Issues
Specialist asked the Dutch Foreign Ministry's about the
status of the MOU, and was referred to Mr. Th. Sneek, deputy
director for international and legal matters in the Defense
Ministry. According to Sneek, there is no such MOU being
drafted. He explained that language about law enforcement
cooperation must be laid down in a treaty and not in an MOU,
as MOU's are not legally binding in the Netherlands.


2. Rather than drafting a separate bilateral treaty, and
thus avoid duplication, Sneek recommended using the
Caribbean regional agreement, which the Netherlands signed
in Costa Rica on April 10, 2003, as a hook-up for
U.S./Netherlands Ledet cooperation. He said that it will be
much easier to find a formulation within the context of the
regional treaty, rather than draft a new treaty. He also
noted that treaty ratification is a complicated and lengthy
process in the Kingdom.


3. Sneek, who praised U.S.-Dutch counter-narcotics
cooperation in the Caribbean, welcomed U.S. reactions to his
recommendation. He can be reached directly at 31-70-318

7258. Embassy POC in this matter is Global Issues
Specialist Mieke Gronheid at 31-70-3109 269 or
gronheidmc@state.gov.

Russel