NETHERLANDS: PROGRESS ON STATUS OF FORCES

UNCLAS STATE 149873 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM MARR MASS MOPS NL XL NT SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: PROGRESS ON STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) REF: A. THE HAGUE 1220 ¶B. STATE 85118 ¶1. This is an action request -- see paragraphs 4 and 5. ¶2. Ref A reported delivery to the MFA Legal Department of a new draft text for a long-term SOFA provided by Ref B. The USG is seeking a long-term SOFA with the Netherlands that would cover U.S. forces present in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for military training and exercises, and other mutually agreed activities (unrelated to counter-narcotics flights). Concluding this SOFA remains a priority for the USG. ¶3. Currently, U.S. forces present in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for military training and exercises are provided minimum protections under an extension of a SOFA that was concluded through an exchange of notes in May 2005. The exchange of notes was intended to serve as a short-term solution in order to afford the Government of the Netherlands time to review the long-term SOFA text delivered to them by the Embassy in March 2005. Although the SOFA extension does not expire until May 2008, we would like to conclude a new agreement as soon as possible to avoid resorting to another less-desirable temporary solution in 2008. ¶4. Post is requested to raise the pending long-term SOFA with GON officials, making the following points: -- We are concerned by the lack of progress made on a long-term SOFA in the last two years, and we would like to conclude a new agreement to avoid another -- and possibly repeated -- extensions of the existing SOFA. -- We respectfully request that the GON expedite the delivery of its formal comments to the USG. -- If useful, we would like to offer a visit or video teleconference with a team of U.S. experts to answer any questions on the proposed text. ¶5. Post is requested to report by cable the result of these discussions. Thank you in advance for your efforts. RICE