FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks With Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Deputy Chief of Mission Residence
The Hague, Netherlands
March 24, 2014
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you. Frans, thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY KERRY: Nice to see you again. I’m happy to see you – very very much so.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Absolutely.
SECRETARY KERRY: Let me say how very grateful we are to The Netherlands for hosting the nuclear summit, and I am particularly grateful to Frans for his friendship and for the extraordinary efforts of The Netherlands with respect to human rights, freedom, standing up on Ukraine, a partner in so many different respects. We’re very, very grateful for that.
We also recognize that The Netherlands is the third-largest investor in the United States, responsible for some 700,000 jobs in our country, a great friend, and also importantly, a helpful advocate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which we all recognize will help lift our countries economically.
So we’re really delighted to be here with you and thank you very much for a generous welcome.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Well, thank you very much for attending. And I have to say you have shown us great leadership on Syria, on the Middle East peace process, on Ukraine, all these things that preoccupy foreign ministers, you’re the leader of the pack in terms of our values, in terms of where we want to go, and in terms of the solutions we want to bring to the table. And I believe we from The Netherlands, the European Union, and the United States – we need to stand together in this period of great challenges to the international system. Especially on Ukraine, I believe we have the great responsibility to break with the logic that you
can change borders by military means if you don’t agree with the policy of our government.
SECRETARY KERRY: Couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Frans.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you. Thank you all very much, appreciate it.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY KERRY: Nice to see you again. I’m happy to see you – very very much so.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Absolutely.
SECRETARY KERRY: Let me say how very grateful we are to The Netherlands for hosting the nuclear summit, and I am particularly grateful to Frans for his friendship and for the extraordinary efforts of The Netherlands with respect to human rights, freedom, standing up on Ukraine, a partner in so many different respects. We’re very, very grateful for that.
We also recognize that The Netherlands is the third-largest investor in the United States, responsible for some 700,000 jobs in our country, a great friend, and also importantly, a helpful advocate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which we all recognize will help lift our countries economically.
So we’re really delighted to be here with you and thank you very much for a generous welcome.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Well, thank you very much for attending. And I have to say you have shown us great leadership on Syria, on the Middle East peace process, on Ukraine, all these things that preoccupy foreign ministers, you’re the leader of the pack in terms of our values, in terms of where we want to go, and in terms of the solutions we want to bring to the table. And I believe we from The Netherlands, the European Union, and the United States – we need to stand together in this period of great challenges to the international system. Especially on Ukraine, I believe we have the great responsibility to break with the logic that you
can change borders by military means if you don’t agree with the policy of our government.
SECRETARY KERRY: Couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Frans.
FOREIGN MINISTER TIMMERMANS: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you. Thank you all very much, appreciate it.
