Brussels, May 26, 1969.
My dear General,
By your letter dated 12th December, 1966 you proposed a number of items which, in
connection with the move of the Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Central Europe
(AFCENT) to the Netherlands, should be added to the Agreement between the Kingdom
of the Netherlands and SHAPE of 25th May, 1964 or alternatively be agreed by exchange
of letters.
Those items concerned which affect existing Netherlands legislation and which, accordingly,
have to be submitted for parliamentary approval, are dealt with in a separate exchange
of notes of today's date.
With regard to the remaining items proposed by you, my Government suggests the following
arrangements:
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1.
Registration of vehicles.
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(a) Motor vehicles of the AFCENT Headquarters shall be registered and licensed by the
Headquarters. They will bear a clearly recognizable sign indicating that they belong
to AFCENT. The distinctive plate RC will continue to be used.
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(b) Private motor vehicles of AFCENT-members and their dependents imported free of duty
and/or tax shall be registered and licensed by AFCENT in accordance with a procedure
to be agreed with the competent Netherlands authorities.
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2.
Concession agreements with Netherlands business firms.
AFCENT is authorized to grant, within its premises, concessions relating to the establishment
of barber and beauty shops, laundry and dry cleaning pick-up points, banking and travel
facilities and other concessions as appropriate, provided that the firms concerned
are qualified in accordance with relevant Netherlands legal and statutory regulations.
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3.
Exemptions and privileges accorded to non-host country commercial entreprises.
Pursuant to article XI, paragraph 4 of the Status of Forces Agreement as further extended
to Allied Headquarters by article 8 of the Protocol of 28th August, 1952, the kinds
and quantities of goods which entitled persons may procure free of duty and/or tax
will be determined in agreement with the competent Netherlands authorities. AFCENT
shall cooperate closely with the competent Netherlands authorities to prevent unauthorized
re-sales on the local market of such goods, or other abuses of the privileges and
immunities granted.
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4.
Identification of civilian personnel, exempt from entering in the population registers.
In the personal identity card issued, in conformity with article 5 of the Protocol,
to civilian personnel, shall be specified whether the person concerned enjoys international
status.
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5.
Information.
In connection with the implementation of certain privileges and immunities AFCENT
shall provide the Netherlands authorities with relevant information.
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6.
National elements.
The various benefits and privileges accorded to AFCENT will also be accorded to personnel,
both military and civilian and their dependents, of national elements serving in the
Netherlands in support of AFCENT. The personnel concerned shall be provided the identity
cards mentioned in article 5 of the Protocol.
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7.
International Military Police.
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(i) The international military police of AFCENT shall have the right to police the premises
of the Headquarters and shall be responsible therein for the maintenance of order
and security and discipline. For this purpose, the term “the premises of the Headquarters”
includes shopping area.
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(ii) The international military police may be employed outside the premises of the Headquarters
in places to which the public has access only for the purpose of taking action with
respect to AFCENT personnel as is necessary to maintain order and discipline, such
employment to be subject to specific arrangements between AFCENT and the competent
Netherlands authorities.
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(iii) The operation of international military police vehicles carrying a distinguishing
police sign recognizable as such in the Netherlands is authorized.
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(iv) A suitable channel for the operation of police very high frequency radio network shall
be allocated by the qualified Netherlands authorities.
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8.
Medical.
AFCENT may install and use medical and dental facilities for its personnel and their
dependents.
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9.
Recruiting of Civilian Personnel.
AFCENT may recruit directly the categories of civilian personnel mentioned in article
3, paragraph 1 (b) (ii) of the Protocol.
AFCENT may also recruit directly and employ in the Netherlands the civilian labour
it requires, subject to the provision of article X of the Agreement of 25th May, 1964.
I propose that, if the foregoing provisions are acceptable to you, this letter and
your affirmative reply will be considered to constitute an arrangement to that effect
between the Netherlands Government and SHAPE.
Please accept, my dear General, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(sd.) H. N. BOON,
Permanent Representative of the
Netherlands to the North
Atlantic Council.
To: General Lyman L. Lemnitzer
Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Casteau
Belgium
