Speech van de minister-president bij het Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Ottawa, 11 Juni 2007

The Long Trail; working together to enhance stability, social cohesion and sustainability

Madame Darling, Mesdames, Messieurs,

Je suis heureux d'être aujourd'hui votre hôte dans ce beau pays, cette ville dynamique à l'occasion de cette conference organisée par votre institut réputé. J'espère que cette heure passée en votre compagnie sera l'occasion d'un échange productif.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Recently, a very interesting documentary was broadcast on Dutch television. It was a 'wartime road movie', made by Canadian soldiers in 1944 and 1945. They filmed the landing on D-Day and recorded the difficult advance of the Canadian army.

We see all those young men landing on the Normandy coast; passing through ruined villages, along muddy roads. We see them mourn their fallen comrades.

In the autumn of 1944, they arrived in my country. In Zeeland there were fierce battles. That is the province where I was born.

I know the fields, dikes and villages that the Canadians captured on film. For them, it was a scene from hell. For me - twenty years later - it was the backdrop to a happy childhood in a free country.

I heard an interesting story of one of the Canadian troopers, who was in Zeeland at that time.

Charly Forbes was involved in the battle for Walcheren Island. 135 men of the Canadian 5 th brigade were killed or wounded during the three days the battle lasted. Charly Forbes was involved in several brave actions. Amidst the chaos of fighting, he took care of a wounded soldier, while the rest of his buddies were out of reach.

I was told he had to wade through the mud, with a wounded comrade on his back. And I was told a Dutch family took them into their home, offering help and shelter in the storm of war.

Charly Forbes, who received the highest Dutch Military honour, is here today. I am glad to see him and proud to shake his hand.

The Canadians didn't only film the fighting. They also filmed the outpourings of joy in liberated towns and villages. The cheering crowds lining the roads, not even minding their toes being run over.

We see Canadian soldiers on ice skates, with four Dutch girls trailing from each arm. Canadians joining in the Saint Nicolas festivities. A soldier doing a magic trick for amazed children. A little boy, lifted up by a Canadian officer, glowing with pride.

The documentary gave us a glimpse of the Netherlands in 1945, as seen through the eyes of young Canadians. That made it both fascinating and moving.

The soldiers' song, too, sent shivers down my spine:

'There's a long, long trail a-winding

Into the land of my dreams.'

Our collective memory in the Netherlands is that we were liberated by the Canadians.

Of course, other Allied forces also played a vital role. But the Canadians have a special place in our hearts, even today.

A few years ago, there was a major international survey into countries' reputations. People were asked: 'Suppose a young person who wanted to leave your country asked you to recommend where to go to lead a good life - what country would you recommend?'

Dutch participants overwhelmingly named two countries: Canada and Australia.

Not only because we still see Canadians as our liberators. But also because of your country's vast scale. Imagine: Canada is two hundred and sixty times the size of the Netherlands. But it has only twice our population. If we look at a map of the world, some people might struggle to locate the Netherlands, while Canada is impossible to miss. We are fascinated by the boundless space, the freedom, and the opportunities.

After the Second World War, more than two hundred thousand Dutch men and women emigrated to Canada. Today, nearly a million of the 33 million Canadians are of Dutch descent. Nearly everyone in the Netherlands has an uncle, aunt or cousin in Canada.

Dutch immigrants helped make Canada what it is today: one of the most developed, happiest nations in the world. A nation of which Canadians can rightly be proud.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have close historical ties. But will our relationship be just as close in the future?

Before that question can be answered, we must address another issue. As free countries with a medium-sized population, what is our role on the global stage?

The context is changing fast. And major changes are taking place within our own borders. What is our ambition at the present time? Can we make a difference? Do we want to?

Questions like this are being asked in the Netherlands, and in Canada. Sometimes, they arise out of uncertainty. Sometimes, they lead to heated discussions about our role.

I get the feeling we can help each other find answers to these questions. Because we have a lot in common. We are idealists, but we have our feet planted firmly on the ground.

I would like to share with you the Netherlands' ideas about what we feel our role should be. And how we view our relationship with Canada. A relationship in which we work together and learn from each other.

Iwill discuss this on the basis of four themes:

• Europe;
• social cohesion and cultural diversity;
• sustainability;
• security and stability.

First, Europe

Just two countries make up the North American continent. The European continent is made up of nearly fifty countries.

Most of European history is marked by conflicts - in changing coalitions. Twice, Canadian soldiers crossed the Atlantic and sacrificed many lives to restore peace and stability on our continent.

Those turbulent times are over. In the last sixty years, peace and stability have spread across Europe. The European Union is now made up of 27 countries. Nearly half of these were still dictatorships in the 1970's.

The strength of the European Union is that it doesn't force its ideas on countries, it wins them over and brings about transformation from within.

European integration has been called one of the most successful projects in the history of mankind. And I would not disagree with that.

The European Union wants to be a positive model. A community of independent nations who share fundamental values and work together peacefully on issues that transcend national territories. The European Union is based not on the rule of might, but on the rule of law.

The Netherlands is one of the six founding nations of the European Union. Recent polls have shown that three-quarters of the Dutch support EU membership.

'But what about your country's rejection of the European constitutional treaty?', I hear you ask. The 'no' vote was not based on anti-European sentiment. It was prompted by the fear of a European super-state.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know that Canadians sometimes regard the European Union with mixed feelings. Over the years, the EU has become a complex institution. It can be difficult to figure out who is in charge, and who to call.

There are many areas in which Canada and the European Union work together to mutual advantage. Areas such as human rights, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Canada has always been a steady partner for Europe even as the EU expanded. I am strongly in favour of an ongoing intensive dialogue between the EU and Canada.

Ladies and gentlemen, a dialogue between Canada and the EU does not remove the need for intensive bilateral contacts. There is a lot that we can learn from each other.

The second theme I want to talk about illustrates this perfectly:

Social cohesion and cultural diversity

Canada has always welcomed large numbers of newcomers. After the Second World War, your country was the most popular destination of Dutch emigrants. Outside the Netherlands, Canada has the largest population of ethnic Dutch in the world.

And they are doing well here! The Dutch Social Insurance Bank recently found that Dutch immigrants in Canada live longer than Dutch people elsewhere. That is pretty remarkable.

What's your secret? Dutch people here tell me that it's a combination of factors: the space, the natural beauty, clean air, friendly people and the outdoor lifestyle.

But I think there is more to it than that. People are happy here. Canada excels in integrating minorities. As a nation of immigrants, you have a rich and interesting tradition in which newcomers are given the space to be themselves, but in which Canada also expects something in return. It's a two-way deal. Canada welcomes immigrants, but also asks them to take part in Canadian life.

Canadians are proud of what they call the Canadian mosaic. Of course, I realise it is not paradise on earth here, either. With so many different groups of people living in one place, there are problems. There are bound to be. But your approach still holds many lessons for us. The Netherlands is also a country of many cultures. Nearly half the residents of Amsterdam and Rotterdam - our two largest cities - are newcomers.

For a long time, integration was not adequately addressed in the Netherlands. Pim Fortuyn was one of the people who put the problems of a multicultural society high on the agenda. It is clear that a multicultural society does not automatically function smoothly. It was an enormous shock to us when filmmaker Theo van Gogh was murdered in 2004 by a young Dutch Moslim radical. People could hardly believe that something like that could happen in the Netherlands.

It is my conviction that diversity gives a country strength and creativity. But there must be a foundation of shared values, a basis which guarantees a peaceful growth of diversity. Without this foundation, society would fall apart. That is why I would like to hear about your experiences of working to achieve unity amid diversity.

There is one tradition that we have already copied from you. New Canadian citizens take part in a citizenship ceremony. That is a way to express inclusion and pride in being Canadian. The Netherlands has adopted this excellent custom.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is another pressing issue which requires our joint effort: How will we limit climate change, while securing our energy supply?

Sustainability

You will understand why this question has my particular concern, when you consider that more than half my country lies below sea level. In fact, I myself live quite close to the lowest-lying part of the country - nearly seven metres below sea level!

But a lot is at stake in Canada, too. Over the last 40 years, a large part of Canada has warmed up by between one and three degrees. And we are starting to see the effects and risks of this warm-up: more heat waves, more smog and melting ice caps.

Sustainability is one of the pillars of my government's national and international policy. Sustainability is not the icing on the cake, but the crucial ingredient. It is embedded in our thinking and our actions.

The Netherlands aims to reduce energy consumption by 2% per year. As for greenhouse gas emissions, we are aiming at a reduction of 30% in 2020 compared to 1990 levels.

We would prefer to achieve these goals in a united effort with our European partners. Europe is also prepared to go for 30% if other major energy-consuming countries join in.

These are ambitious targets, ladies and gentlemen. But the situation demands it.

You probably know the latest figures. Global greenhouse gas emissions have grown by three per cent a year since 2000. In the 1990s, this was only one per cent per year.

The emerging economies of China and India are largely responsible for this increase. But we cannot make demands of them if we do not make every effort ourselves.

There is a lot that we can do. Instead of waiting for others to make a move, we can take the lead. In energy efficiency. Innovation. Smart technologies.

The winners of tomorrow will not be the largest polluters, but those with the know-how to make their societies cleaner. The Netherlands is determined to be one of the frontrunners.

Tomorrow, I will be going to Alberta to learn more about the Canadian situation, about the challenges your country faces. In view of your own energy needs and global energy security, it is only natural that you are exploiting your oil reserves. But, as our two countries agree, the challenge is to minimise or offset the damage to the environment.

The Netherlands has a lot of expertise in this field and we would be happy to share it. We know a lot about water management, soil remediation and soil management, new methods for underground carbon storage… to name only a few subjects. In Alberta tomorrow, I will be exploring how we might assist Canada in contributing to a cleaner planet.

This brings me to my fourth and last theme, ladies and gentlemen:

Security and stability

Do you want to know what I believe is the most impressive Canadian invention of the last 50 years?

No, not the BlackBerry, although it does rate very highly with me! I don't know how I ever managed without it.

The most impressive Canadian invention, in my opinion, is not a thing but an idea, a vision. It is the concept of the 3 Ds: Defence, Diplomacy and Development.

In today's world, weapons alone cannot guarantee security. Security and stability can only be achieved through a broader approach. One in which defence, diplomacy and development go hand in hand. All of these elements are necessary in order to achieve lasting results.

This vision also underlies Dutch policy.

Canada and the Netherlands are part of a large group of countries who do not only preach involvement, but also practise it. We have both played an active role, and sometimes a leading one, in fighting the spread of small arms and light weapons and in promoting human security.

We worked together during UN peace missions in the Balkans, where we found that we got on very well.

Now, we are partners in Afghanistan, a country burdened by its history of repression, terror, conflict and poverty. And by its years as an outcast from the international community.

I have deep respect for the spirit and determination with which the Canadian forces in Kandahar and elsewhere are doing their work. I understand your feelings of loss for the fifty-seven soldiers killed during this mission. The grief of the Canadian families who have lost loved ones touches me and my countrymen, too.

The Netherlands is honoured to be working with Canada on achieving peace and security in Afghanistan. About eighteen hundred Dutch men and women are stationed in Uruzgan, Kandahar and Kabul. We know, as you do, that it is vital to convince people at home of the importance of this mission. Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. Transforming a devastated country into a prosperous democratic nation is not something that can be done overnight. It takes time.

For every two steps forward, we are often forced to take one step back. There are no quick wins. But one thing is certain: pessimism will not help us. And there are enough hopeful signs to keep us going.

Afghanistan has one of the freest societies in the region. It has an independent press and functioning democratic institutions. Its GNP doubled in only five years. Five million Afghan children have returned to school. Sixty-five thousand land mines have been cleared. More than one thousand wells have been drilled. One hundred and fifty kilometres of new road have been built in Kandahar. And there are four hundred 'cash for work' projects in Uruzgan.

ISAF is settling in all over the country. In the troubled Southern provinces, the Taliban are under pressure.

We know that NATO can't manage on its own in Afghanistan. The EU, the UN and international development organisations must make a heavier footprint. We are pleased that the EU is starting a police mission in Afghanistan this week, in which Canada will also be participating.

The next step should be more UN offices and more UN programmes in the south of the country. After all, ISAF was mandated by the UN. And the Afghan government itself should send more troops and police units to the South. It needs to create a stronger presence there and introduce better governance. This a crucial component of our transfer strategy.

Eleven NATO allies are now active in southern Afghanistan. As the secretary-general of NATO said, the operation is more than a litmus test of NATO's relevance in the twenty-first century. It is also a test of the strength of solidarity within the alliance. It should be clear that the Netherlands is already operating at the limits of its military capacity in Uruzgan.

There is no doubt that reconstructing Afghanistan will require the long-term involvement of the international community. The Afghan people deserve to live in peace and security. And we all stand to benefit from a stable Afghanistan that maintains friendly relations with its neighbours.

The international community cannot abandon this country. It would be irresponsible. We have been active in the Balkans for fifteen years. And for thirty years in Cyprus and in the Middle East. By contrast, international involvement in Afghanistan only goes back to 2001.

In the Netherlands, we will have to decide this summer if we will continue to participate in ISAF after August 2008. And if so, how. The decision will be made after careful deliberation and discussion. Naturally, we will maintain close contact with Canada and our other allies during this process.

It is too early for me to say at this stage what the outcome of this process will be. Whatever is decided, our development efforts will continue until the end of 2009.

As one of the world's poorest countries, Afghanistan can rely on the Netherlands' commitment. Yet at the same time, we should not ignore the enormous distress in other parts of the world. Particularly in a number of African countries, where circumstances also require the involvement of the international community (including the Netherlands) in the form of 3D missions. Defence, diplomacy, development.

Ladies and gentlemen, Canada and the Netherlands are not leaders in terms of population size. But I am convinced that we do make a difference.

Our influence is not derived from threats and power play, but from our ability to see things from other people's perspective. From an innovative approach. From our willingness to participate in both thinking up solutions and carrying them out. We do all this because we are responsible nations. And because we believe in the values that unite us: freedom, human rights, respect for our planet and all its natural resources.

It is this shared conviction that causes us to link up again and again in the international arena. Let's keep working together. Let's keep learning from each other. In the areas of social cohesion, sustainability, and stability and security, two can achieve more than one.

Our goals may seem to lie on a distant horizon. But we must keep in mind the song that the Canadian soldiers sang in 1944, when they landed in Normandy:

There's a long, long trail a-winding

Into the land of my dreams.

Fortunately, those young men were prepared to take that long, long trail.

Considering our freedom and prosperity now, we also have a duty to stay the course.

That is our task in our global society.

Thank you.