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FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
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INFO RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 4120

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