BELGIAN AND THE UN -- VIEWS OF A NEW UNSC MEMBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 004157

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2011
TAGS: PREL AORC UNSC BE CG SU IR KN
SUBJECT: BELGIAN AND THE UN -- VIEWS OF A NEW UNSC MEMBER


Classified By: DCM William Imbrie, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: IO A/S Silverberg's December 6 meetings
with the Belgian MFA indicated that Belgium and the U.S.
were in general agreement on most major issues facing the
UN Security Council, apart from some differences on Iran.
On Iran, the Belgians said that they thought it appropriate
now to agree on a "soft sanctions" approach to build the
broadest possible consensus. A/S Silverberg replied that,
while consensus was important, it should not come at the cost
of a
strong and effective UN Security Council resolution that
creates
tangible costs for Iran in its pursuit of a nuclear weapons
capability. The Belgians indicated they want to work
closely with the U.S. on North Korea, and urged an increase
in pressure on the Bashir regime in Sudan to lessen the
regional danger created by the Darfur conflict. The
Belgians said unspecified "logistical" problems would
prevent their serving on the Council's Counter-terrorism
Committee, but expressed willingness to serve on the Iran,
Ivory Coast, UNMEE, Working Methods, and Child Soldiers
Sanctions Committees. The Belgians urged the U.S. to
support renewal of the MONUC mandate in keeping with the
transition to an elected government. End summary.


2. (U) During a series of December 6 meetings in Brussels,
the Assistant Secretary of State for International
Organization
Affairs, Kristen Silverberg, outlined U.S. views and listened
to
Belgian concerns prior to Belgium's assumption next year of
a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. In addition
to a
roundtable with regional experts at the MFA, she met for 45
minutes with MFA Secretary General (Permanent
Secretary-equivalent) Jan Grauls and other senior officials

SIPDIS
in
the MFA's International Organizations Division, including
acting Director General for Multilateral Affairs Jan Deboutte
and International Organizations Director Benedicte Frankinet.
A/S
Silverberg also had two press interviews on the
U.S. approach to UN issues, and attended a working lunch
with the Chairman of the Belgian Senate's Foreign Affairs
and Defense Committee, Senator Roelant du Vivier, and senior
MFA officials.

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UNSC Issues
--------------


3. (C) Iran and North Korea: The Belgians were largely in
listening mode as A/S Silverberg detailed U.S. views. In
response to MFA SecGen Grauls' suggestion that "soft
sanctions" targeted only against nuclear entities
might be feasible, A/S Silverberg argued against the idea,
maintaining that it was important to pass a strong resolution
to create a tangible cost for Iran in its pursuit
of a nuclear weapons capability. She urged the Belgians to
help the U.S. maintain a spotlight on the behavior of
the Iranian government. On North Korea, the Belgians praised
UNSCR 1718, which they consider a useful model for dealing
with the Iran issue. A/S Silverberg agreed.


4. (C) Darfur: To the Belgian MFA, getting a strong
international force on the ground was the key next step
for dealing with Darfur. Also important was limiting
the spread of disorder to Chad and the Central African
Republic. The financing of AMIS was also a concern in
Brussels. The Belgians noted that the EU had provided
almost 75 percent of the funding for AMIS and were
disappointed with the results. A/S Silverberg expressed
similar concerns about developments in Darfur, where
Bashir has managed to stymie early hopes about deployment
of an international force. Grauls hoped Special Envoy
Natsios would meet with GOB officials when next in the
region.


5. (C) Lebanon, MEPP, and Iraq: The Belgians urged a
renewed push on finding a broad settlement for the
Israel-Palestinian dispute, based on the road map, and
focused on the "real issues" hindering progress toward a
two state solution. To that end, the Belgians said they
would continue t support the International Temporary
Mechanism, and to press the Israelis on the Palestinian tax
collection issue. The Belgian side made clear
that FM De Gucht opposes holding a new international
conference "until the time is ripe." The Belgians said
they are generally satisfied with UNIFIL's performance,
but indicated it was necessary to wait before
making any permanent assessment -- they had been satisfied
with the organization's work prior to the recent war also.
The Belgians said they had no formal view as yet on renewal
or termination of the UNMOVIC mandate, but wondered how to
keep UNMOVIC's expertise available to the UNSC.


6. (C) On Lebanon, A/S Silverberg said the U.S. considers the
new UNIFIL mandate to be a positive, strengthening factor.
The U.S. remained focused on preventing weapons smuggling
across
the Syrian border and on securing Lebanese parliamentary
approval of the international tribunal for investigation of
the Hariri murder. Referring to Iraq, Silverberg indicated
that the U.S. wants to see more UN officials active in Iraq
and the UNMOVIC mandate terminated, as requested by the
Iraqi authorities.

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Belgian Participation on UNSC Committees
--------------


7. (U) In response to queries, MFA SecGen Grauls said the
Belgians would not be able to participate on the CTC
Committee. He urged the U.S. not to press Belgium
further. Belgium was interested in serving on the
following committees:

-- Iran Sanctions
-- Ivory Coast
-- Child Soldiers Working Group
-- Working Methods Working Group
-- UNMEE Working Group

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MONUC Renewal
--------------


8. (C) Grauls urged the U.S. to support renewal of the
MONUC mandate when it came up for a vote in February. The
mandate would need to be suitably adjusted to reflect the
new elected status of the regime in Kinshasa. MONUC was
needed, he argued, to promote stability in Central Africa.
In addition, he thought it necessary to continue a body
like the current CIAT organization that advised President
Kabila on the transition process. He thought the group
should include key supporting states now in CIAT, plus
IBRD/IMF, and the EU. The SRSG should chair the new
group. He proposed including this in the next MONUC renewal
resolution. Having an organization of experienced people
able to link stabilization/reconstruction and political
issues had proven enormously valuable. A/S Silverberg
said she would look into the issue.

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Public Diplomacy
--------------


9. (U) A/S Silverberg led a lively discussion of UN issues
at a lunch hosted by the DCM. Other guests included Director
General Deboutte, Director Frankinet, and Senator Roelant
du Vivier, Chairman of the Belgian Senate Foreign Affairs
and Defense Committee. A/S Silverberg expressed
disappointment with the new Human Rights Council for its
focus on Israel instead of gross human rights violators such
as
Burma and the DPRK and indicated the U.S. had not yet decided
whether to run in the next HRC election. She expressed
interest
when several participants suggested that European countries
speak
individually on topics, rather than with one "EU" voice.
Korologos
.