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. -------------- The Setting -------------- ¶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. -------------- The Hague -------------- ¶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. -------------- Amsterdam -------------- ¶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. THE HAGUE 00000783 002 OF 003 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. -------------- Rotterdam -------------- ¶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. -------------- Leiden -------------- ¶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. -------------- Other Celebrations -------------- ¶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. -------------- Media Outreach -------------- ¶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. -------------- Acknowledgments -------------- ¶12. Mission thanks the Washington File for Michael Jay Friedman's THE HAGUE 00000783 003 OF 003 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