THE HAGUE, 23/04/09 - The Netherlands wants the US to abolish the act that legitimises the use of force to free Americans if they should fall into the hands of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

"American legislation that would justify the use of force against the Netherlands to keep Americans out of the ICC is outdated and should be amended," said Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen after a meeting with Democratic Congressman Chris van Hollen in the Congress in Washington. "As host country, the Netherlands welcomes the improved cooperation between the US and the ICC, for example over Darfur," Verhagen went on. "I hope that this trend will continue, and that it will also lead to the amendment of the so-called Hague Invasion Act" of 2002.

Van Hollen is co-chairman of the group of Congress members and Senators who work for encouraging good relations between the Netherlands and the US. "Van Hollen has announced that he and Republican Hoekstra will put forward a resolution in Congress in honour of the 400 years of friendship between the two countries," said Verhagen, without specifying the contents of this resolution.

This year, the arrival of the Dutch ship 'De Halve Maen' on the island of Manhattan on the US east coast 400 years ago is being celebrated. The New Amsterdam trading post was established on the island, later to grow into the city of New York.