BELGIUM'S COOL RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON PRESERVING

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003669

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2011
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV PTER MOPS BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM'S COOL RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON PRESERVING
LEBANESE PM SINIORA'S GOVERNMENT

REF: SECSTATE 172274

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR THEODORE H ANDREWS, REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D)


1. (C) In response to ref A demarche, Belgian FM De Gucht's
Deputy Chief of Staff for Middle East Affairs, Jean-Luc
Bodson, told us the MFA could not agree with the USG request
about dealing with the Syrians. Bodson explained that the
Belgians thought the U.S. approach would be
"counterproductive" on a number of points. First, according
to Bodson, Belgium's ambassador (NFI) had arrived recently in
Damascus and had yet to have developed the type of
relationships needed to make points that could be perceived
as "accusations without proof." Doing so might undercut his
future effectiveness. Second, Bodson said while Belgium did
not have "good" relations with the Syrians, "we do have
better relations than you" which Belgium could usefully
maintain as such, for potential future use. Bodson added
that Belgian diplomats in Damascus had been alerted to the
matters raised in ref a, and to the need to raise such issues
with Syrian counterparts. Poloff reiterated that it was
important to raise the issue of any disturbances that started
in Beirut with Syrian officials.


2. (C) The MFA's desk officer for Lebanon, Syria, and
Jordan, Hendrik Van De Velde, told us separately that
Belgium's ambassador in Beirut had reported along lines that
paralleled information conveyed in ref A. However, the
Ambassador's information had not been as specific as ours.

EU FISSURES ON LEBANON
--------------


3. (C) Taken aback at the request to demarche Syria, Van de
Velde asked whether the U.S. was raising the matter also with
the EU's CFSP High Representative Solana. Explaining that
the EU was the usual forum where Belgium discussed and
decided its positions on issues like the Middle East, our MFA
contact noted the EU member states normally found it
difficult to reach a common position on Syria and Lebanon.
France generally refused to deal with Assad because of
President Chirac's close relationship with the late Prime
Minister Hariri. Belgium was also in a sensitive position
because of Belgian Serge Brammertz' role in investigating
Hariri's murder. Because of Brammertz' job, the Belgians
feared Syria would believe Brussels had ulterior motives when
it raised Lebanon-related issues. In an aside, Van de Velde
noted that some unspecified parties in the international
community hoped Brammertz would take part in the Hariri case
whenever it went to trial. For his part, Brammertz
reportedly wanted to accept a position to become a member of
the International Tribunal at The Hague.


4. (C) Referring to Spanish FM Moratinos' recent visit to
Damascus, Van de Velde commented that Spain's approach was at
the other end of the EU scale from France. The Belgian
embassy in Madrid reported that Moratinos did not "get much"
from Assad during his visit. Despite this disappointment,
the Spaniard planned to make more trips to Damascus in the
future.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Bodson is new to his position and, not surprisingly,
echoed the MFA's traditional cautious line on Middle East
issues. Given this attitude, and given the fact of a new
ambassador in Damascus and the delicate position of Serge
Brammertz, we must recognize that Belgium is in a sensitive
position. We will have to work carefully whenever we want
them to stick their necks out. Imbrie
.