COUNTRY CLEARANCES GRANTED FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 002501

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR INT/USGS/RESTON/JSAFFER TEL: 703 647-6075

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA TPHY KSCA NL
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCES GRANTED FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY GEOLOGISTS DONALD GAUTIER AND TIMOTHY KLETT -
NOVEMBER 26-29, 2006

REF: STATE 189844


1. Country clearance is granted for USGS Research Geologists
Donald L. Gautier and Timothy R. Klett to travel to the
Hague, the Netherlands from November 26-29, 2006 to meet with
Geologists of Shell International Ltd. to obtain information
and data concerning petroleum resource potential of the
circum-Arctic in support of the USG circum-Artic resource
appraisal.


2. Embassy Economic Officer for Energy Matters is Jason
Heung and if possible he would like an outbriefing by
telephone of the visit to the Netherlands - Emb. Tel: (31)
(70) 310-2339; Cell Phone: - (31) (65) 378-2313; Fax: (31)
(70) 310-2348.

POST ACCESS:


3. Visitors who need unescorted access into secure areas of
the Mission must provide proof of a clearance. If level of
clearance was not provided in the original country clearance
request it should be done by separate cable. The cable
should include SSN, and the name of the agency granting the
security clearance. Cables must include the ASEC tag to
ensure distribution to the RSO office.

COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS USE:


4. Inter-agency security standards prohibit the introduction
or use of non-USG owned computer hardware and software at all
USG diplomatic facilities. Cell phones, palm pilots, radios
and other convenience electronics are prohibited in all
secure areas of the Mission.


5. Travelers who anticipate having special needs in terms of
either access or computer usage should contact the RSO office
before arriving at post.

Security ADVISORY:


6. The Government of the Netherlands (GoN) assesses the
threat level of a terrorist incident for The Netherlands as
&substantial.8 This is the second highest of four threat
levels and is defined as a realistic threat that the
Netherlands will experience a terrorist attack. GoN has
implemented Counter-Terrorism and heightened security
measures in response.


7. US citizens in The Netherlands are encouraged to monitor
media reports, to maintain a high level of vigilance and to
take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.
American citizens should bear in mind that even
demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn
confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.
American citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations
if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity
of any demonstrations.


8. The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the
heightened possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S.
citizens and interests abroad. As noted in the Department of
State,s Worldwide Caution of October 11, 2006, terrorists do
not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Such
targets may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other
foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas,
clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels and
public areas. Terrorist actions may include, but are not
limited to, suicide operations, assassination, hijackings,
bombings or kidnappings. These may involve aviation and
other transportation and maritime interests.


9. An area of concern for visitors to The Netherlands is
crime. Most crimes against officials Americans are limited
to pick-pocketing and purse and luggage theft. Theft from
automobiles and hotel rooms are also on the rise. Theft of
laptop computers has increased, especially at Schiphol
Airport and major train stations. The thieves operate in
small groups that target travelers. They are determined and
well-practiced at distraction theft. Official travelers have
been victimized, losing personal or unclassified government
computers, software and data. Travelers are reminded that
regulations require the use of the diplomatic pouch for
shipment of classified equipment and information.


10. Streets can be walked in relative safety but, as in any
U.S. urban area, caution and vigilance should be exercised
especially after dark in the more populated cities of The
Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Red-light districts and
public transportation hubs are common locations for incidents

THE HAGUE 00002501 002 OF 003


of street crimes.

OVERVIEW OF THE NETHERLANDS


11. The Netherlands is slightly less than twice the size of
New Jersey and has a population of 16.3 million. The
government is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral
parliament. Queen Beatrix is the titular head of state and
has mostly ceremonial duties, but does retain some political
influence. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende came to power
in 2002, but his first cabinet lasted less than a year.
After winning reelection, Balkenende built a center-right
coalition that collapsed in August 2006, as it entered its
fourth and final year in office. Balkenende continues to
govern with a minority government (comprised of his Christian
Democratic (CDA) and the Liberal (VVD) parties). Elections
are scheduled for November 22 and are predicted to be a dead
heat between Balkenende,s CDA and opposition Labor (PvdA)
parties.


12. The Dutch economy depends on trade; Amsterdam's Schiphol
Airport (Europe,s fourth busiest) and the Port of Rotterdam
(Europe,s largest) make the country a gateway to Europe.
The Netherlands is the third largest source of foreign direct
investment in the United States and is the third largest
destination of foreign direct investment from the United
States. GDP is expected to grow by 2.5 to 3 percent in 2006,
which puts the Dutch ahead of eurozone averages for the first
time in seven years. Unemployment has fallen to 5.5 percent.


13. The Dutch generally take similar approaches to the U.S.
on international security, human rights, free trade, and rule
of law issues, although differences on specific policies are
not uncommon. The Dutch are committed internationalists who
support strong transatlantic ties through NATO and the
further development of the European Union. Long active in
peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, Dutch military forces
participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, made significant
contributions to stabilization efforts as part of Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and continue to take part in NATO's
International Security Force in Afghanistan. The Netherlands
is also an international legal center and hosts the
International Court of Justice, the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal
and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia.


14. The Netherlands is among the world's leading aid donors,
giving about 0.8% of its gross national product annually in
development assistance, making it the sixth argest donor
nation in dollar terms, and the fifh most generous relative
to GNP. The country consistently contributes large amounts of
aid through multilateral channels for education, the
environment, water, AIDS, and reproductive health care. The
Dutch provided extensive material support and expertise to
the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina thanks to
centuries of experience in holding back the North Sea.


15. The people of the Netherlands are predominantly ethnic
Dutch but with large minority communities from Morocco and
Turkey as well as from the Netherlands' current and former
overseas territories of the Dutch Antilles, Suriname, and
Indonesia. The influx of immigrants during the past three
decades has been accompanied by increased social tensions
between native-born Dutch and immigrant communities and led
to growing debate about social integration and an increased
emphasis on defining Dutch norms and values. The Muslim
community in the Netherlands is the second largest in Western
Europe as a percentage of the population (6 percent). The
majority are immigrant &guest workers8 and their
descendants; roughly a third of the Muslim population is of
Turkish descent, with another third of Moroccan descent. In
order to better explain our policies and gauge the Muslim
community,s concerns, the embassy has placed a high priority
on Muslim outreach.


16. The U.S. Mission to the Netherlands, including the
Embassy in The Hague and the Consulate General in Amsterdam,
has employee from the Departments of State, Commerce,
Agricuture, Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense, as wll
as DEA and NASA. DHS,s Immigration and Custos Enforcement
(ICE) and Customs and Border Protetion (CBP) maintain
offices in Rotterdam and at chiphol Airport. The FBI legal
attach and U.S. ecret Service Europol liaison are stationed
in Th Hague. The Consulate General in Amsterdam servesa
resident American population of 41,000 in addiion to nearly
one million U.S. visitors every yer.

The State Department,s Country Background Noes on the
Netherlands are available on the internt:

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http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3204.htm.
















































































- ,
ARNALL