NETHERLANDS/ANTILLES-ARUBA SOFA: EXTENSION ACCEPTED

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000278 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL AA NA NT XL NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/ANTILLES-ARUBA SOFA: EXTENSION ACCEPTED REF: STATE 22404 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Government of the Netherlands is in agreement with the U.S. proposal to extend the current bilateral Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by exchange of diplomatic notes. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On May 1 POLMIL Officer received the GoNL diplomatic note response to Department's proposal (reftel)to extend the SOFA. The original was scanned and sent to appropriate offices and the original is being pouched to the Department: L/T, Room 5420 (Attn: Daphne Cook). BEGIN TEXT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands presents it compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and refers to the Embassy's note No. 037/09 of March 11, 2009 which reads as follows: "The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the assurances of its highest consideration 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 three times, each time for a period of one year, and which will terminate, in accordance with its terms, on May 3, 2009. Desiring to continue military cooperation between our military forces in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, and in view of upcoming military training and exercises and other activities, including bilateral training and professional development seminars, 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, 2010. 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 May 3, 2009, and shall remain in force until May 3, 2010. The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the assurances of its highest consideration." The Ministry has further the 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 and Agreement between the two governments, which shall enter into force on May 3, 2009, and shall remain in force until May 3, 2010. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. END TEXT GALLAGHER