VZCZCXRO9442
OO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL
RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHAO #1017/01 3072343
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 032343Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL CURACAO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1785
INFO RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0152
RUEABND/DEA WASHINGTON DO
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/JIATF SOUTH
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/USSOUTHAF DAVIS MONTHAN AFB AZ
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1552

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CURACAO 001017 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USSOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN ECON SNAR CMGT NL NA AA
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS ANTILLES SEPARATING, BUT CLOSE COOPERATION AND 
TIES TO REMAIN 
 
CURACAO 00001017  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Summary: Following several years of discussions, referenda 
and negotiations, the islands of the Netherlands Antilles have 
officially agreed to cease to exist as a political unit.  Both 
Curagao and St. Maarten will each also have autonomous country 
status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  The three smaller 
islands will have much less autonomy from the Dutch government, 
governing themselves in a status similar to municipalities in 
Holland.  Although the Antilles will cease to exist, substantial 
changes are not expected.  All countries will still fall under 
the umbrella of the Dutch Kingdom and cooperation between the 
different countries will continue albeit in a slightly different 
format.  Overall relations between the island governments of the 
former Antilles and the U.S. are not expected to be affected as 
a consequence.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  An official, political agreement to dissolve the Netherlands 
Antilles was reached in marathon negotiations in The Hague on 
November 2, 2006, between representatives from the Netherlands, 
Curacao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands Antilles.  Curagao and 
St. Maarten will each become countries in the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands and will soon draft a phased implementation plan to 
adopt the new constitutional relationships within the Kingdom. 
In five years, the parties will evaluate and modify the 
constitutional structure, if needed.  The agreement reached 
November 2 mentions no exact date when this new political status 
officially takes effect, but earlier discussions had set as a 
goal July 1, 2007.  (Comment:  Most observers feel that date 
remains very optimistic.)  As described by Prime Minister Emily 
de Jongh-Elhage of the Netherlands Antilles, the islands 
involved "are separating, but with closer ties and cooperation." 
 
¶3.  The following is a synopsis of the new structures which will 
be formed and commitments the new countries will undertake. 
This agreement should not in any way affect our operations at 
the Forward Operating Location in Curacao. 
 
--Court System.  A new judicial organization will be created for 
Curagao and St. Maarten comprised of one Common Court of Justice 
for all the Dutch Caribbean islands.   However, Curacao and St. 
Maarten will each have its own Court of First Instance. 
 
-- Public Prosecutors.  Curagao and St. Maarten will also each 
have their own public prosecutor's offices headed by one 
Attorney General for the former Antillean islands--Curagao, St. 
Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire.  The Attorney General 
will answer to the Minister of Justice of Curacao, St. Maarten 
and the Netherlands.  The public prosecutors will be able to 
work throughout Curagao, St. Maarten and the three smaller 
islands. 
 
-- Police forces.  Curagao and St. Maarten will have their own 
police forces, but officers will be authorized to work on any of 
the former Netherlands Antilles islands.  Cooperation on prison 
and immigration matters is expected to remain the same.  The 
Ministers of Justice for Curagao, St. Maarten and the 
Netherlands will be responsible for transnational crime policy. 
 
-- Treaties and International Obligations.  The terms of the 
agreement call for Curagao and St. Maarten to adopt and comply 
with all international treaties for which the country of the 
Netherlands Antilles had requested co-validity with the 
Netherlands. 
 
-- Monetary Issues.  Curagao and St. Maarten will continue to 
have one Central Bank and common currency. 
 
-- Netherlands Antilles Debt.  Curagao and St. Maarten will be 
relieved of the debt of the former Netherlands Antilles, which 
will be absorbed by the Kingdom.  Details of the debt transfer 
are to be further worked out. 
 
--- Prison and immigration matters will remain the same and the 
islands will continue to regulate this among themselves. Prison 
space in Curagao and St. Maarten will be made available for 
inmates from each other, as well as from Bonaire, Saba, and St. 
Eustatius. Curacao, St. Maarten, and the Netherlands will 
jointly regulate immigration, including guarantees for 
professionalism, quality, integrity, uniform procedures and 
registration systems. 
 
CURACAO 00001017  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
-- The three small islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba 
will receive a political status roughly equivalent to 
municipalities within the Netherlands. 
 
¶4.  Comment.  Constitutional questions have plagued the Dutch 
Caribbean for decades.  Although the dissolution of the 
Netherlands Antilles would appear that it could complicate 
relations with the U.S., much of what has been agreed with this 
new arrangement merely formalizes what had been de facto 
practice for many years.  The issue has been that each island 
felt it received less from the Netherlands Antilles than what it 
put in.  In particular, St. Maarten will now achieve the degree 
of political autonomy and recognition that it has fought for, 
but will be closely watched as it undertakes responsibility for 
its own governance.   Most importantly, with these changes the 
Dutch Caribbean islands will continue to be stable, with a 
strong judicial system. 
SORENSON