BELGIUM IS ON TRACK TO FULLY IMPLEMENT UNSCR 1737

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001222 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN AND EB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETTC KNNP KTFN BE IR SUBJECT: BELGIUM IS ON TRACK TO FULLY IMPLEMENT UNSCR 1737 AND 1747 REF: A. STATE 40440 ¶B. BRUSSELS 1037 ¶C. STATE 38553 ¶D. BRUSSELS 176 ¶E. 06 STATE 202585 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In conformity with its role as chair of the UNSC Iran sanctions committee, Belgium has pledged full compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1737 (ref D) and 1747. Belgian financial institutions appear to be fully implementing relevant freeze obligations. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) On March 27 Econoff conveyed USG concerns regarding full compliance with UNSCR resolutions on Iran (para 5 of ref C) to the following GOB officials: Beatrice Detiste, Financial Specialist, Treasury; Olivier Henin, Advisor, Ministry of Finance; and Lia Umans, Analyst at CTIF-CFI, Belgium's Financial Intelligence Unit. ¶3. (SBU) On April 2, Econcouns contacted Henin who detailed the steps taken by Belgian financial institutions listed in para 4 of ref A to follow asset freeze obligations outlined in UNSCR 1747. By way of additional background on Belgian commitment to Security Council resolution implementation (ref E),Henin explained that Belgium, like other EU countries, implements UN sanction resolutions through a binding but not directly applicable Common Position and a binding and directly applicable regulation. Henin further clarified that a Common Position for the EU (and therefore Belgium) to implement UNSCR 1737 had been already drafted and would be amended in the coming days to include all provisions of UNSCR 1747 (see ref B for background on EU follow through). ¶4. (SBU) Henin assured Econcouns that Belgium is "keeping up the pressure" regarding obligations placed upon financial institutions. Speaking from previous experience with the two Belgian financial institutions listed in ref A, Henin stated that he was confident both banks would fully implement relevant freezing obligations without delay. BELGIUM'S REPORT TO UN ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 1737 -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Meanwhile post reviewed Belgium's report to the 1737 Security Council Committee. Para 19 of UNSCR 1737 mandates that all States must report to the Committee within 60 days of the resolution's adoption in order to describe the progress of implementations outlined in paras 3-8, 10, 12, and 17 of the resolution. Belgium's response, in a February 16 note verbale to the Committee, states that Belgium is in conformity with all of the mandates in each relevant paragraph based upon already existing domestic legislation. However, Belgian implementation of the "vigilance" provision of paragraph 17 was to be reported separately, according to the note verbale. ¶6. (SBU) Post will update on Belgium's status of implementing provisions outlined in para 17 of UNSCR 1737 separately as appropriate. IMBRIE .