NATIONWIDE OBSERVANCE OF DUTCH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 000783

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R, H, EUR, EUR/PPD, EUR/UBI, ECA/P/A, ECA/PE/V/R/E,
IIP/G/EUR, IIP/PUBP, IIP/G/CP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PREL SCUL NL
SUBJECT: NATIONWIDE OBSERVANCE OF DUTCH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP



1. Summary: The Embassy organized observances across the
Netherlands April 16-24 marking Dutch American Friendship and the
225th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. The Embassy
organized speeches, receptions and other celebrations in seven
cities, including an event at parliament co-hosted by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs at which Prime Minister Balkenende joined
Ambassador Arnall in extolling the long friendship between our two
countries. Large receptions focusing on Dutch-American friendship
were also held in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Leiden. In addition,
author Russell Shorto, an expert in the Dutch settlement of New
York, spoke at five universities. The festivities included a
televised American football game at which Consul General Ames
conducted the coin toss and gave remarks on our close ties with the
Netherlands. The Ambassador gave three interviews to national press
and television during the week and a leading morning daily published
his op-ed. Taken together, the events constituted our most active
week of public outreach in recent memory. End Summary.

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The Setting
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2. The Embassy built the week's events around April 19, the 225th
anniversary of the Dutch government's recognizing the U.S. and
accepting John Adams as the first U.S. Ambassador to the
Netherlands. All events highlighted the passage of a Congressional
resolution on March 12 that lauded Dutch American friendship. It
was introduced by Representatives Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD),both of Dutch descent. Following is a complete
rundown of the week's events.

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The Hague
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3. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Embassy
organized a high-profile program just steps away from where John
Adams presented his credentials. Both the Prime Minister and the
Ambassador underscored our shared values in their speeches. Prime
Minister Balkenende declared, "We can still say today what John
Adams said then. That there is a natural alliance between the
Netherlands and the United States - if ever one existed among
nations." Ambassador Arnall quoted John Adams' reflection over his
success establishing diplomatic ties: "I think that no opportunity
will present itself for a Century to come, for striking a stroke so
critical and of so extensive importance, in the political system of
America." U.S. Representatives Hoekstra and Van Hollen spoke via
pre-recorded video messages.


4. The guest list for the observance centered on Dutch alumni of
U.S. exchanges, such as the International Visitor Leadership Program
and Fulbright programs. Prime Minister Balkenende told the audience
of his International Visitor trip in 1985. Over a hundred alumni
attended, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen, an
IV grantee in 1999, and Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der
Hoeven, an IV in 1995. Dr. Barbara Oomen, who spoke at the
observance, was the first Fulbright New Century Scholar from the
Netherlands. A Dutch musician who performed at the observance was a
Fulbright scholar at Julliard. Dutch wire service ANP and three
newspapers covered the event.

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Amsterdam
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5. Four events celebrating Dutch American Friendship were held in
Amsterdam with business and academic contacts as well as the general
public. First, on April 18, Ambassador Arnall spoke about diversity
at a conference co-sponsored by ABN-AMRO, the largest bank in the
Netherlands, and the Free University, one of the country's largest
universities. Second, on April 19, the American Chamber of Commerce
and the John Adams Institute co-sponsored a discussion commemorating
Dutch American Friendship Day. Some 100 people attended. Antoine
van Agtmael, the renowned financial analyst who coined the term
"emerging markets," noted that the U.S. was an emerging market when
the Netherlands invested in it over 200 years ago. In her speech
Consul General Marjorie Ames said about our two nations: "Over the
past two centuries we have dedicated ourselves to freedom,
independence and economic development for ourselves and others."


6. The third event was also on April 19. The Amsterdam American
Business Club hosted a dinner with the Schiphol Group, which manages
Holland's largest airport. Speakers included CG Ames, Schiphol
Group CFO Pieter Verboom, and Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam Lodewijk
Asscher. Two hundred Dutch and American business and government
officials attended. Verboom noted that the Netherlands has often
been the first nation to embark with the U.S. on a new venture (e.g.

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Open Skies) and announced that our two countries will soon launch
the International Expedited Traveler Initiative, which would
facilitate travel between the U.S. and the Netherlands. Asscher
explained that his strong affinity toward the U.S. originated with
his father, who was liberated during WWII, and his having attended
Columbia Law School. He highlighted the shared values that underpin
our relations.


7. In the fourth event the Amsterdam Admirals, one of six NFL teams
in Europe, dedicated their game on April 20 to Dutch American
Friendship. During the pre-game show the announcer commented on the
long-standing ties between the U.S. and the Netherlands, and the
Admirals featured the theme in the game program. CG Ames gave
opening remarks, performed the coin toss, and was escorted on and
off the field by two Marines from the Embassy. An Embassy official
sang the Star Spangled Banner before 14,000 fans in the stands. NFL
TV broadcast the game nationwide in the U.S.

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Rotterdam
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8. On April 17, Mayor Ivo Opstelten hosted a reception for business
and political contacts at City Hall. Ambassador Arnall spoke about
Dutch American friendship and the ties between Rotterdam and the
U.S. Our Foreign Commercial Service worked closely with city
officials to prepare the event. Guests viewed the embassy's
PowerPoint presentation of 60 images and photographs depicting
Dutch-American relations and milestones. The attendees also toured
a Holland America Line exhibition at the nearby Maritime Museum.

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Leiden
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9. On April 22, the organization Overseas Americans Remember, the
City of Leiden, and the University of Leiden celebrated
people-to-people ties between the countries. The Charge, Consul
General and 200 guests attended, including 50 who rode three hours
from Limburg province where 8,301 American servicemen who died
during World War II rest at the Netherlands American Cemetery and
Memorial in Margraten. The Embassy provided banners as well as the
images and photos used in Rotterdam and The Hague.

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Other Celebrations
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10. On April 16, Ambassador Arnall gave a presentation at Utrecht
University College about Dutch American friendship. The Embassy
also arranged for Mr. Russell Shorto, author of "The Island at the
Center of the World" and writer for the New York Times, to visit
major universities in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Leiden, Groningen, and
Nijmegen where he described to appreciative students and faculty how
Dutch settlers and immigrants to America left an indelible influence
on U.S. history and thought, particularly American conceptions of
multiculturalism and diversity. Mr. Shorto also spoke during the
event at parliament on April 19. The National Library of the
Netherlands prominently displayed two documents at its library in
The Hague: the Act of Friendship, April 19, 1782, signed by John
Adams, and his request of April 19, 1781 to the Dutch for economic
and moral support for the United States.

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Media Outreach
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11. Prior to Dutch American Friendship Day on April 19, Ambassador
Arnall did three interviews on bilateral cooperation: an interview
with RTL Television (largest commercial television news program;
about one million viewers) that aired nine times April 18-20, and
was excerpted in its prime-time evening news show on April 17
(1,101,000 viewers); "De Telegraaf" (conservative morning daily;
circ. 735,088) carried its full-page interview on April 21; "Het
Parool" (centrist evening daily; circ. 65,000) carried a two-page
spread with the interview on April 21. "De Volkskrant" (influential
liberal morning daily; circ. 278,922) published on April 21 a
by-liner by Ambassador Arnall about Dutch-American historic ties.
EUR Deputy Assistant Secretary Colleen Graffy, the senior visiting
official from the Department on April 19, gave an interview to media
outlets Netherlands World Service and Business News Radio.

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Acknowledgments
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12. Mission thanks the Washington File for Michael Jay Friedman's

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article about John Adams and the Dutch, which is available on our
DAFD website. We are also grateful to EUR/PPD and EUR/UBI for
helping "the bonds of friendship linking the Dutch and American
people continue to grow in strength and affection," as the House
resolution proclaimed.
BLAKEMAN