During a meeting in Holland
Minister Bot finds the matter of the boycott against Aruba a delicate one
DIARIO Aruba
11/12/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Information out of The Hague shows that in the meeting of the Council of ministers of the Kingdom, Friday November 11 2005, the topic of the Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s boycott against travel to Aruba was broached.

Although this point was not on the agenda of the Council of ministers of the Kingdom, substitute Plenipotentiary Minister, Mrs. Ella Tromp-Yarzagaray brought this forward given the urgent character of this issue.

After giving a summary of the latest developments and a description of the eventual consequences of an American boycott of Aruba, the mandatory made a petition to the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ben Bot, to get in contact with his American counterpart, Ms. Condoleezza Rice.

Aruba is of the opinion that American authorities have to come out with a stronger declaration in the American press in regards to the action taken by the Alabama Governor, saying that the American Government does not support a boycott.

Minister Bot said that he will do this, but added that one must act with much precaution, because this case is very delicate. The Council of ministers of the Kingdom in its totality showed their solidarity to Aruba and emphasized the urgency of this issue.

Another point dealt with at the meeting of the council of ministers of the Kingdom is the installation of the Round Table Commission which counts with the participation of the Minister President of Holland, Minister President of the Antilles and Minister President of Aruba, as well as the installation of the Preparatory Round Table Commission which will do the preparatory work for the future nation restructuring of the Antilles.

It was decided that for most likely the date of November 26, 2005 there will be a Round Table Conference in Curaçao with the representatives of the 3 countries of the Kingdom and representatives of the insular territories.

Aruba brought forth that it supports the change to the Statute for the future restructuring of the Antilles of 5, but that this cannot turn around the autonomy of the country of Aruba.

Minister for Kingdom Issues Alexander Pechtold was in Aruba on the 15 of October and already had a conversation with Prime Minister Oduber about this matter.

[translated by Getagrip]