THE HAGUE -The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament wants King Willem-Alexander to go on a state visit to Suriname. A majority of the Dutch parliament has requested this from the cabinet. The Dutch MPs supported a motion on this by Tunahan Kuzu of the DENK party.
Diplomacy ties between the two countries have been strengthened since last year after the departure of Desi Bouterse, who was president for ten years. A state visit would be good to give the relationship a further boost. According to the motion, the king’s visit should take place in the context of the celebration of 46 years of Suriname’s independence. That will be celebrated in Suriname on November 25.
Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs was in Paramaribo last November for the celebration of Independence Day. Blok was the first Dutch minister to visit Suriname in ten years. The last state visit of the Royal Family to the former colony of Suriname was in 1978, three years after the country had gained independence. Then Juliana was still queen.