NETHERLANDS: STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT EXTENSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001037 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RICHARD REITER),L/PM (THOMAS HEROLD) OSD FOR WALTER EARLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL NL NT XL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT EXTENSION FOR EXERCISES IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA REF: STATE 60451 ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see para 3. ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel, Post received June 1 the diplomatic note from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated May 21 regarding the one-year extension of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The Dutch diplomatic note follows ours dated May 7 proposing the one-year extension. With the exchange of notes, the SOFA extension shall enter into force on the date of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' reply, with retroactive effect as of May 3, 2007, and shall remain in force until May 3, 2008. Text of the Dutch reply note follows in para 4; Post will forward a certified true copy of the U.S. note and the original Dutch reply to the Department (L/T, Room 3626, ATTN: Daphne Cook). ¶3. (SBU) Post has reiterated Washington's interest in negotiating a long-term agreement to the GONL on a number of occasions, including most recently on May 4. According to the MFA Legal Division, it is also desirable from the Dutch perspective to pursue a long-term agreement, especially as the repeated extensions have raised questions among parliamentary members. It is Post's understanding that Washington sent draft long-term agreement text to the GONL in spring 2005 but has not received a substantive response. Post requests Washington guidance regarding jump-starting the long-term agreement negotiation process. ¶4. (SBU) Begin text: The Hague, 21 May 2007 DJZ/VE-435/07 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's note No. 042/07 of May 7th, 2007, which reads as follows: "The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has the honor to refer to the Agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the status of military and civilian personnel of the United States Department of Defense temporarily present in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in connection with military exercises and training constituted by exchange of notes at The Hague on May 3, 2005 (the agreement),which would have terminated, in accordance with its terms, on May 3, 2006, and was extended for an additional year and terminated, in accordance with its terms, on May 3, 2007. Desiring to continue military cooperation between our military forces in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba and in view of upcoming military training and exercises, in particular the bilateral Marine Corps Exercise that will take place in the Caribbean in June 2007, the Embassy proposes that the Agreement shall again be extended for an additional period of one year, so that the Agreement will remain in force until May 3, 2008. If the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy proposes that this note, together with the Ministry's note in reply to that effect, shall constitute an agreement between our two governments which shall enter into force on the date of the Ministry's reply, with retroactive effect as of May 3, 2007, and shall remain in force until May 2, 2008. The embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the assurances of its highest consideration." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the further honor to inform the embassy of the United States of America that the proposals set forth in the Embassy's note are acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to confirm that the Embassy's note and this note shall constitute an agreement between the two governments, which shall have effect from May 3, 2007. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this THE HAGUE 00001037 002 OF 002 opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. The Embassy of the United States of America End text. ARNALL