NETHERLANDS: RENEWING OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000078 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS: RENEWING OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Through high level visitors and expanded Mission outreach in 2009, we have perhaps the opportunity of a generation to re-invigorate our strategic partnership with the Dutch. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Need: The Dutch are one of our closest allies in Europe; we work together on many fronts, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, to promote security, peace, development, and free trade around the globe. Yet, overall support for U.S. objectives is slipping among MPs, youth, the Muslim minority, and the population in general. Polling data in 2008 revealed that approximately one-half of the Dutch population had a negative view of the United States, and 60 percent disapproved of our international policies, particularly in Iraq and Guantanamo. While we enjoy considerable support among the WWII generation, middle-aged voters, the young and the growing Muslim minority are cynical about cooperation with the United States, which affects Cabinet decisions to support U.S. strategic objectives. ¶3. (SBU) What NY400 Is All About: The leadership of the Dutch government understands these trends as well. It decided to use the 400th anniversary of the Dutch-sponsored expedition that led to Henry Hudson's exploration of the Hudson River valley and the eventual founding of New Amsterdam (the yearlong celebration is called "NY400") to tie our shared history to our shared future. As MFA State Secretary Frans Timmermans, who heads the NY400 effort for the government (GONL),said in a recent news article, "We need the U.S." The GONL, in close cooperation with the cities of Amsterdam and New York (and the Mission),has invested almost $10 million in events on both sides of the Atlantic, including VIP visits, conferences, artistic performances, book launches, architectural and design events, trade missions, lecture series, student exchanges, and even a donation by the GONL of a permanent Dutch pavilion at Battery Park in New York City. The two flagship weeks of NY400 occur on April 1-6 in Amsterdam and September 8-13 in New York (with a visit by the Crown Prince and his wife),coinciding with the times Hudson departed Amsterdam and arrived in what became New York Harbor. From the standpoint of the Embassy and the Consulate General, the quadricentennial is a chance not only to celebrate historic events, but more importantly to expand awareness of our similarities: our pioneering spirit and the values of freedom, democracy, openness, creativity, entrepreneurship, diversity, and tolerance - our "shared DNA." ¶4. (SBU) What's In It For Us: The U.S. Mission in the Netherlands is seizing this opportunity to rekindle enthusiasm among the Dutch for our bilateral relationship. With NY400 as a platform, we will stress our shared history, values, interests, and, most importantly, future through USG high level visits and Mission activities. Through our enhanced engagement, we expect that by year's end more Dutch will support U.S. strategic objectives, such as continued deployment of Dutch troops (in some fashion) in Afghanistan after ¶2010. By focusing on youth and the Muslim community, we hope to build a better understanding of U.S. goals, as well as our shared interests, among the most U.S.-skeptic portion of the population. This will lay the foundation for increased popular support for GONL partnership with the United States. ¶5. (SBU) Opportunities for High Level Visitors: Mission outreach can only do so much. Our efforts would greatly benefit from high level visits by senior USG officials during 2009 (in conjunction with other travel). These visits would combine participation in Qwith other travel). These visits would combine participation in NY400 activities with substantive engagement with GONL officials and outreach to our target audiences. NY400 events which provide signal opportunities for USG high level visitors are: - End of March: 5th Annual "Unity Is Strength" Award Ceremony and Youth Conference in Rotterdam (program focuses on minority youth from throughout Europe; Rev. Jesse Jackson and former Afghan MP Malalai Joya will receive awards; Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Kofi Annan have indicated they will also participate; Rotterdam is the European Youth Capital for 2009 and has one of the largest Muslim populations of any major European city); - April 1-6: New York Week in Amsterdam (various activities including a "Pioneers" conference bringing together cutting-edge thinkers and professionals from diverse fields to promote active citizenship and celebrate diversity with a special focus on young leaders); - April 19: Dutch-American Friendship Day (celebrated in Amsterdam on April 20); - May 24: Memorial Day weekend commemoration services at the Netherlands-American Cemetery in Margraten; - End of August/Beginning of September: Book release of "Four Centuries of Dutch-American Relations," a compilation of our shared history by more than 100 authors, and conference at the Roosevelt Study Center in Middelburg (Queen Beatrix will officiate); THE HAGUE 00000078 002 OF 002 - Mid/late September: 65th anniversary activities for Market Garden ("A Bridge Too Far") and WWII liberation efforts in eastern Netherlands; and - November 16: Dutch American Heritage Day (official end of NY400 activities). (Note: We would cloak any high level visit in 2009 with NY400 significance, regardless of the timing. End Note.) ¶6. (SBU) Comment: New York and Amsterdam Mayors Bloomberg and Cohen jump-started the NY400 on January 28 with simultaneous press conferences in Amsterdam and New York. Dutch news organizations provided massive coverage of the event. The Dutch government and NY400 Foundation have built a comprehensive plan that is attracting significant interest and support on both sides of the Atlantic. Taking advantage of NY400 events by USG high level visitors will have a multiplier effect - it guarantees ready and friendly media coverage as well as access to groups who would generally discount our engagement as rhetoric. Furthermore, it provides a benign reason for a visit which we would also use to press for Dutch engagement and cooperation on U.S. interests such as Afghanistan, energy security and climate change. At the end of the year of outreach and engagement, we hope to have built a constituency for enduring cooperation between the U.S. and the Netherlands. A platform for similar engagement tied in with a major bilateral event like NY400 will not occur again in the near future. End Comment. GALLAGHER