THE PRIME MINISTER
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
WEST INDIES
Kingstown, May 30th, 2008
Excellency,
I wish to acknowledge receipt of correspondence of 28th May 2008, the text of which
is as follows:
“Honourable Prime Minister,
Noting that the World Food Programme (WFP) is a key humanitarian actor in Somalia,
to which it sends 80% of its assistance by sea;
Considering that the security of its vessels is of fundamental importance in this
regard for the entire humanitarian community in Somalia;
Taking into consideration the statements of the President of the United Nations Security
Council on 15 March 2006 in support of Resolution A.979 of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) dated 23 November 2005;
Conscious of the joint call made on 10 July 2007 by the IMO and the WFP for concerted
international action to resolve the problem of piracy and armed robbery directed against
ships in waters off the Somali coast;
Taking note of resolution 1772 (2007) of the United Nations Security Council, expressing
its concern at the upsurge in piracy off the Somali coast, and the joint press release
issued on 10 July 2007 by the International Maritime Organization and the World Food
Programme;
Considering the persistent incidents of armed robbery committed in the territorial
waters of Somalia, and responding to the request made by the Government of the Republic
of Somalia and recent requests from the WFP, the Netherlands is willing to lend its
support to the Somalia Government for the protection of WFP-contracted ships bound
for Somalia;
I have the honour therefore, speaking on behalf of my Government, of making the following
proposal to you:
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– the present provisions have been defined to meet the needs of protection of World
Food Programme-contracted ships in the territorial waters of Somalia and their application
is limited to the period of the presence of Dutch Forces deployed in this connection
on the territory of the Republic of Somalia.
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– For the protection of the ships of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, being the Flag State
of the ships chartered by the World Food Programme, the Government of Saint Vincent
and Grenadines, as Flag State:
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a) in conjunction with the owners of the ships flying its flag, shall facilitate the
embarkation of Dutch Forces on ships chartered by the World Food Programme;
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b) in conjunction with the owners of the ships flying its flag, shall facilitate cooperation
between the Dutch Forces, including those on board such ships, and the ship’s crew;
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c) shall authorise the Dutch Forces to take all necessary steps, including the proportionate
use of force. In this connection, the Dutch Forces shall assess the correct match
between the means to be employed and the manner in which they are to be employed,
at whatever level.
The Government of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, authorises the possession
of weapons and munitions for security by Dutch military personnel present on board
ships chartered by the World Food Programme and flying its flag.
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– The Government of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, grants to Dutch military
personnel present on board its WFP-contracted ships for the purpose of their protection,
personal inviolability and immunity from legal proceedings in its criminal, civil
and administrative courts, in addition to immunity from execution, in respect of acts
done or anything omitted in the performance of their official duty.
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– The Government of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, waives all rights of
recourse against the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the event of
prejudice caused to third parties and its nationals by Dutch Forces in the execution
of their tasks. In the event of legal action instituted in connection with such prejudice,
the Government of the Flag State shall stand in lieu of the Government of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands in the proceeding. In all events, the Government of the Flag State
shall pay any compensation due as redress for prejudice caused. If the latter is attributable
to Dutch Forces alone in the course of the execution of their tasks, the Government
of the Kingdom of Netherlands shall refund the amount of the compensation to the Government
of the Flag State. If both Governments are jointly responsible for the prejudice suffered
by third parties, the amount of the compensation shall be shared equally between them.
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– Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, agrees to the handing over to the Somali
authorities by Dutch Forces of all equipment confiscated from individuals having committed
acts of armed robbery on board its ships, unless it wishes to proceed otherwise.
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– Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, agrees to the handing over to the Somali
authorities by Dutch Forces of all individuals having committed acts of armed robbery
on board its ships, unless the Dutch authorities wish to proceed otherwise.
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1. In the event the Dutch Forces hand over individuals to Saint Vincent and Grenadines,
the Netherlands make it a condition for such handing over of individual to Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, as Flag State, that the latter give assurances that in cases where
capital punishment may be incurred, the death penalty will neither be sought nor applied
to the individuals handed over.
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2. The authorities of the Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, undertake to ensure
the transfer, guarding and safety of the individuals handed over by the Dutch authorities,
abiding by applicable international law, and specifically international human rights
law, assuring themselves that no individual handed over to them is subjected to torture
or any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
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– The death of any member of the personnel of Dutch Forces on board a ship of the Flag
State shall be declared to the authorities of that State, which hereby agrees to hand
over the body to the Dutch authorities without delay.
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– Any dispute between the parties concerning the implementation or interpretation of
the provisions hereof shall be settled exclusively by negotiation.
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– The Government of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, as Flag State, and the Government
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands may terminate this agreement in writing, giving
a short period of advance notice.
Expiry of the present agreement shall not discharge the Parties of obligations created
during its implementation.
The provisions contained in this exchange of letters may be communicated to any third
State that should so request from either of the parties.
I should be grateful if you would inform me whether the provisions set out above meet
with the approval of your Government. If this is the case, the present letter, and
your reply, shall constitute the agreement entered into by our two Governments concerning
the protection tasks to be performed by Dutch Forces with regard to World Food Programme-contracted
ships on inbound or outbound journeys between the territorial waters of the last port
of call and their entry into the port of destination in Somalia, and that agreement
shall take effect on the date of your reply.
Please accept, Honourable Prime Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
I have the honour to inform you of the agreement of my Government to the provisions
set out above. Given this, the present agreement shall be in force from the date hereof.
Dr. the Honourable
RALPH GONSALVES
Prime Minister,
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines
Affairs.
