Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS1561
2007-05-10 14:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSC ACTION ON SPECIAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1561 1301407 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101407Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA IMMEDIATE 0447 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5326 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 0287 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 0252 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0203
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001561
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017
TAGS: UNSC LE SY PREL PTER BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSC ACTION ON SPECIAL
TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON
REF: A. USUN 347
B. EMAIL SONTY/ALLEGRONE/YOUNG 05/03/07
C. STATE 58765
D. STATE 63229
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001561
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017
TAGS: UNSC LE SY PREL PTER BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSC ACTION ON SPECIAL
TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON
REF: A. USUN 347
B. EMAIL SONTY/ALLEGRONE/YOUNG 05/03/07
C. STATE 58765
D. STATE 63229
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) The head of Belgium's UNSC cell Rudi Brieven assured
us on May 9 that Belgium (GOB) is "fully supportive" of a
UNSC resolution to establish a Special Tribunal for Lebanon
and will vote in favor in any event. The principles behind
Belgium's position are: (1) that the authority of UNSC
"demands" action, and (2) the credibility of the Braamertz
investigation. (Comment: That Braamertz is a Belgian jurist
had earlier constrained the GOB from comments/demarches
related to the Hariri investigation. End comment.)
2. (C) Nonetheless, Brieven raised several issues that the
GOB believes must be addressed in order for a resolution to
succeed, which he termed "an uphill battle." Nine votes will
be hard to get. First, there are the negative postures of
China and Russia. Then, the fact that UNSCR 1559 passed with
only nine votes last summer made what Brieven termed a
weakened resolution. He noted that Belgium does not
"over-estimate" its influence in convincing other Council
members to support the proposal.
3. (C) Brieven seemed relieved to learn that the U.S. was
working with France, in particular, as well as the U.K. to
craft language of a resolution. He suggested strongly that
the tenor of the text not come across as
"politically-motivated," that is, anti-Syrian.
IMBRIE
.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
KINSHASA PASS TO BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017
TAGS: UNSC LE SY PREL PTER BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSC ACTION ON SPECIAL
TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON
REF: A. USUN 347
B. EMAIL SONTY/ALLEGRONE/YOUNG 05/03/07
C. STATE 58765
D. STATE 63229
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) The head of Belgium's UNSC cell Rudi Brieven assured
us on May 9 that Belgium (GOB) is "fully supportive" of a
UNSC resolution to establish a Special Tribunal for Lebanon
and will vote in favor in any event. The principles behind
Belgium's position are: (1) that the authority of UNSC
"demands" action, and (2) the credibility of the Braamertz
investigation. (Comment: That Braamertz is a Belgian jurist
had earlier constrained the GOB from comments/demarches
related to the Hariri investigation. End comment.)
2. (C) Nonetheless, Brieven raised several issues that the
GOB believes must be addressed in order for a resolution to
succeed, which he termed "an uphill battle." Nine votes will
be hard to get. First, there are the negative postures of
China and Russia. Then, the fact that UNSCR 1559 passed with
only nine votes last summer made what Brieven termed a
weakened resolution. He noted that Belgium does not
"over-estimate" its influence in convincing other Council
members to support the proposal.
3. (C) Brieven seemed relieved to learn that the U.S. was
working with France, in particular, as well as the U.K. to
craft language of a resolution. He suggested strongly that
the tenor of the text not come across as
"politically-motivated," that is, anti-Syrian.
IMBRIE
.