NETHERLANDS: EXTENSION OF ANNUAL STATUS OF FORCES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000389 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE (T. SMITH),L/PM (T. HEROLD) OSD FOR WALTER EARLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL NL NT XL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: EXTENSION OF ANNUAL STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT FOR EXERCISES IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES AND ARUBA REF: STATE 17674 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Post received a diplomatic note from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated May 8 regarding the one-year extension of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. 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, 2008, and shall remain in force until May 3, 2009. Text of the Dutch reply note follows in para 3; 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). ¶2. (SBU) Post continues to engage with the Dutch MFA Legal Department in the effort to identify potential dates to conduct negotiations regarding a long-term SOFA. The Legal Department claims it has yet to hear from the island governments regarding new dates for these negotiations. ¶3. (SBU) Begin text: Treaties Division DJZ/VE-314/08 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. 057/08 of May 7, 2008) 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 twice for periods of an additional year, and which terminated, in accordance with its terms, on May 3, 2008. 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 a marine unit exchange in June-July 2008 and the Deux Tricolores Exercise in October-November 2008, and any other agreed activities, including scheduled port calls, the Government of the United States 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, 2009. If the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of the United States proposes that this note, together with the response from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, 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, 2008, and shall remain in force until May 3, 2009. The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this opportunity to renew 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, 2008. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. The Hague, 8 May 2008 THE HAGUE 00000389 002 OF 002 End text. Gallagher