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Dutch Parliament asked to ratify Franco-Dutch treaty
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Jun 26, 2006 18:40 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Bot asked the First and Second Chambers of the Dutch Parliament recently to ratify as soon as possible the Franco-Dutch Treaty signed on May 17, 1994, by former vice prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles Leo Chance.
He made his request after consulting with Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage on June 1. She indicated during that meeting that the matter should be handled promptly. As soon as the treaty is ratified by both chambers of the Dutch Parliament, Bot said, he will start negotiations with the Netherlands Antilles and France to take measures to prevent foreigners from entering St. Maarten illegally through the harbour and beaches.
While France ratified the treaty, which entails control on illegal foreigners entering St. Maarten through the airport, on September 22, 1995, the Dutch Government is still waiting on a final position of St. Maarten on the treaty to send it to Parliament.
Bot said in a statement issued on June 16 that this situation was no longer acceptable.
Illegal migration in St. Maarten has multiplied during the last 10 years. While the estimates on the number of persons residing illegally in St. Maarten varies, Bot said that, according to the Permanent Defence Committee of the Dutch Parliament that visited the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in January, there were almost as many illegal as legal persons living in St. Maarten, with the legal residents estimated to be 30,000.
According to Bot, effective control on foreigners has become more important regarding the combating of international terrorism. “The pressure of the French to do something has increased in recent years. My predecessor and I have brought this matter to the attention of the Government in Willemstad (Central Government, ed.) many times. However it never led to a conclusion.”
Bot said the reason for not ratifying the treaty had to do with an advice from the Netherlands Antilles Parliament not to do so because the treaty would have negative effects on tourism for St. Maarten.
Also the authority of the committee that would be installed to decide on the controls to take place was an objection. This committee, consisting of five people from French St. Martin and five people of St. Maarten will decide what incoming flights can be considered as risk flights so the passengers will be submitted to controls by Dutch and French immigration officers.
The former Dutch Defence Minister decided in 1999 to hold up the process to ratify the treaty, but wanted to hear from the Netherlands Antilles when a reaction from the Netherlands Antilles could be expected.
However, Bot said, there is still no word from the Netherlands Antilles on St. Maarten’s position on the treaty, while other forms of desired cooperation with the French authorities such as Coast Guard and Customs are on hold because the treaty has not been ratified.
In addition, Bot said, the circumstances on which St. Maarten based its initial objections have changed. The Netherlands Antilles ratified in January 2005 a list of countries whose nationals need visas to enter the Antilles.
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