Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRUSSELS2974
2006-09-01 12:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIANS WILL URGE DELIVERY OF STRONG MESSAGE TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #2974 2441205 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011205Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2969
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002974
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS WILL URGE DELIVERY OF STRONG MESSAGE TO
IRAN AT GYMNICH MEETING
REF: A. SECSTATE 143323
B. ANDREWS-FALLS EMAIL 8/31/06
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 002974
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS WILL URGE DELIVERY OF STRONG MESSAGE TO
IRAN AT GYMNICH MEETING
REF: A. SECSTATE 143323
B. ANDREWS-FALLS EMAIL 8/31/06
1. (U) Belgian Foreign Minister De Gucht will urge the
delivery of a strong message to the Iranians at the
conclusion of the September 1 Gymnich in Finland. Despite
some nervousness on the part of several EU members, De Gucht
reportedly expects little difficulty in reaching agreement to
follow such a course, according to Michel Tillemans, the MFA
staff officer who will accompany the Minister to the meeting.
At this stage, Tillemans told polcouns, the Minister thought
there was absolutely no reason to permit the Iranians to
perceive any daylight between the EU and the U.S.
2. (U) Tillemans also noted that the session in Finland
was going to cover the need for renewed progress toward
implementation of the Middle East roadmap. To this end, they
planned to urge a sustained effort to create the conditions
in which progress actually could occur. Put in practical
terms, this meant finding a practical way to get more help to
the Palestinian people and working energetically to rebuild
Lebanon.
3. (SBU) Speaking parenthetically, Tillemans indicated also
that De Gucht and Prime Minister Verhofstadt had succeeded in
overriding stiff cabinet opposition to sending a Belgian
contingent to the new, beefed-up UNIFIL. Several members of
the coalition government thought it was a bad idea to send
Belgian troops into harm's way, particularly in the period
right before critical local elections. With the Prime
Minister's backing, getting the proposal to send troops
through the cabinet turned out to be easy. Imbrie
.
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PGOV PREL BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS WILL URGE DELIVERY OF STRONG MESSAGE TO
IRAN AT GYMNICH MEETING
REF: A. SECSTATE 143323
B. ANDREWS-FALLS EMAIL 8/31/06
1. (U) Belgian Foreign Minister De Gucht will urge the
delivery of a strong message to the Iranians at the
conclusion of the September 1 Gymnich in Finland. Despite
some nervousness on the part of several EU members, De Gucht
reportedly expects little difficulty in reaching agreement to
follow such a course, according to Michel Tillemans, the MFA
staff officer who will accompany the Minister to the meeting.
At this stage, Tillemans told polcouns, the Minister thought
there was absolutely no reason to permit the Iranians to
perceive any daylight between the EU and the U.S.
2. (U) Tillemans also noted that the session in Finland
was going to cover the need for renewed progress toward
implementation of the Middle East roadmap. To this end, they
planned to urge a sustained effort to create the conditions
in which progress actually could occur. Put in practical
terms, this meant finding a practical way to get more help to
the Palestinian people and working energetically to rebuild
Lebanon.
3. (SBU) Speaking parenthetically, Tillemans indicated also
that De Gucht and Prime Minister Verhofstadt had succeeded in
overriding stiff cabinet opposition to sending a Belgian
contingent to the new, beefed-up UNIFIL. Several members of
the coalition government thought it was a bad idea to send
Belgian troops into harm's way, particularly in the period
right before critical local elections. With the Prime
Minister's backing, getting the proposal to send troops
through the cabinet turned out to be easy. Imbrie
.