Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRUSSELS2800
2006-08-16 13:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIANS SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT UNIFIL, BUT NO
how-toVZCZCXRO1899 PP RUEHAG DE RUEHBS #2800 2281343 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161343Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2847 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0147 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 7580 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0259 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 4128
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002800
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2011
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT UNIFIL, BUT NO
AGREEMENT ON HOW
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002800
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2011
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT UNIFIL, BUT NO
AGREEMENT ON HOW
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) For Belgium, all options were still on the table
regarding participation in the new look UNIFIL. This was the
only significant result of an August 16, 2006 planning
meeting between representatives of the Prime Minister's
office, the MFA, the Defense Ministry, and the Development
Ministry. BG Harry Vindevogel, military adviser to the Prime
Minister, reaffirmed to polcouns the existence of a cross
party consensus to "do something," but added that the exact
shape of Belgium's role was still not fixed.
2. (C) Vindevogel noted that the Belgians were gathering
further information from a variety of sources, including New
York, and from other EU capitals. The French and Italian
contribution to the force would probably exercise a decisive
influence on what the Belgians (and other EU members) finally
decided to do. Responding to a point raised in reftel,
Vindevogel said Belgium traditionally used its own
transportation assets for participation in PKO's.
3. (U) In an interview published August 16, 2006, Foreign
Minister De Gucht indicated dissatisfaction with the lack of
specifics about the mandate for UNIFIL. He expressed
particular disappointment with the reported comments of the
UNIFIL commander suggesting a long lead time before the new
force reached its authorized strength; the build up should
run much faster to be effective, De Gucht maintained. De
Gucht also said he would like to have seen an explicit
mention of Chapter VII in the recently passed resolution.
Imbrie
.
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2011
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS SAY THEY WILL SUPPORT UNIFIL, BUT NO
AGREEMENT ON HOW
REF: SECSTATE 134133
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) For Belgium, all options were still on the table
regarding participation in the new look UNIFIL. This was the
only significant result of an August 16, 2006 planning
meeting between representatives of the Prime Minister's
office, the MFA, the Defense Ministry, and the Development
Ministry. BG Harry Vindevogel, military adviser to the Prime
Minister, reaffirmed to polcouns the existence of a cross
party consensus to "do something," but added that the exact
shape of Belgium's role was still not fixed.
2. (C) Vindevogel noted that the Belgians were gathering
further information from a variety of sources, including New
York, and from other EU capitals. The French and Italian
contribution to the force would probably exercise a decisive
influence on what the Belgians (and other EU members) finally
decided to do. Responding to a point raised in reftel,
Vindevogel said Belgium traditionally used its own
transportation assets for participation in PKO's.
3. (U) In an interview published August 16, 2006, Foreign
Minister De Gucht indicated dissatisfaction with the lack of
specifics about the mandate for UNIFIL. He expressed
particular disappointment with the reported comments of the
UNIFIL commander suggesting a long lead time before the new
force reached its authorized strength; the build up should
run much faster to be effective, De Gucht maintained. De
Gucht also said he would like to have seen an explicit
mention of Chapter VII in the recently passed resolution.
Imbrie
.