NETHERLANDS: RENEWING OUR STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

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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);

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- 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