Dutch Government Can't Confirm Existence of Echelon

US will not comment on any intelligence operation, so the existence of Echelon can neither be confirmed nor denied.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs said in an reply to parliamentary questions the governement is not able to confirm the existence of Echelon, the US-led interception system. He refused a further inquiry on the existence of Echelon, because that wouldn't be 'useful'.

The Greens in Dutch parliament had asked the governement if it could confirm the existence of Echelon. The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday replied that such a confirmation cannot be given. 'It is not possible to detect interception activities of foreign intelligence agencies,' the minister wrote parliament. 'Besides that, countries which run interception operations will refuse to give any information on this subject.'

The minister refers to the official press guidance the United States released, reacting on the accusations of economic espionage. In this press guidance, the United States governement stated it will not comment on actual or supposed intelligence operations. 'An official confirmation of the existence of Echelon therefore is out of the question. So, a further inquiry is not useful,' according to the Dutch minister.

The minister confirmed Dutch intelligence agencies are working together with the NSA in the exchange of information and technical assistance, but refused to go in detail. 'Specific information on the character and intensity of this cooperation have to be kept secret, because it contains operational information.' The minister refers to a parliamentary committee, existing of the presidents of the big four Dutch political parties, that receives confidential information on the activities of Dutch intelligence. This committee could receive more information on the cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies. But experts for long criticise this kind of 'parliamentary control', because the committee meets only once or twice a year and is not believed to actually control the intelligence community.

The minister further denied Dutch signal intelligence is passed on to Dutch companies. He confirms the "Technical Information Centre" (TIVC) of the Navy intelligence is intercepting international communication, but intercepted material is not been given to Dutch industry, according to the Dutch minister. (see also Echelon in Holland)