Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen is paying a two-day visit to Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.

The aim of the Minister's visit is to discuss diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries as well as their relationship with the European Union. The Foreign Ministry says Mr Verhagen is currently working on a draft policy document.

Mr Verhagen arrived in Aruba on Wednesday and was welcomed by governor Fredis Refunjol. He will also be consulting with Prime Minister Oduber.

On Thursday, Mr Verhagen will talk to governor Martin Goedgedrag in Willemstad on Curaçao and the Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage.

Although both Prime Ministers are responsible for their own foreign policy, Mr Verhagen carries responsibility for the final policy document.

Dutch diplomatic relations with Aruba have recently been stained by accusations of corruption by its Prime Minister Oduber. Last month MP and Socialist party member Ronald van Raak said that 'Oduber is an unreliable leader' and 'one of the biggest crooks on the island.' In June 2009, the Dutch cabinet planned an investigation of corruption in the Aruban government which was later rejected by Mr Oduber.

Curaçao has an agreement with the Netherlands and the Antilles to become independent, possibly in 2010. An important part of those agreements is cancelling the island's debts by the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Antilles became a Dutch colony in 1954 and consists of the islands Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustacius and St Martin. Although the Antilles and Aruba have since gained varying independent statuses within the Dutch Kingdom, the Netherlands has kept close ties with the countries.