Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS1787
2007-06-01 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND BELGIUM: JUNE 10 ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1787 1521051 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011051Z JUN 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5514 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0309 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 7970
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001787
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2012
TAGS: NATO PINS PREL MOPS MARR BE AF
SUBJECT: NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND BELGIUM: JUNE 10 ELECTIONS
LIMIT SCOPE OF POSITIVE BELGIAN RESPONSE
REF: SECSTATE 71547
Classified By: DCM William Imbrie, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001787
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2012
TAGS: NATO PINS PREL MOPS MARR BE AF
SUBJECT: NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND BELGIUM: JUNE 10 ELECTIONS
LIMIT SCOPE OF POSITIVE BELGIAN RESPONSE
REF: SECSTATE 71547
Classified By: DCM William Imbrie, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Belgian FM De Gucht
told DCM on May 30 that the June 10 federal polls limit
Belgium's ability to be responsive to NATO's request. De
Gucht said that while his party (the party of the Foreign and
Prime Ministers) was sympathetic to the request from NATO,
they are unable to take action on it pending the elections
and formation of a new government.
2. (C) A senior aide to De Gucht told us the government has
already agreed to NATO's request for Belgian Forces to remain
at Kabul Airport until April 7, 2008, recently announced by
Defense Minister Flahaut. The aide commented that recent
suicide bombings in northern Afghanistan will make selling an
expanded Belgian presence in Afghanistan even more difficult.
3. (C) Comment: We will keep this issue before the Belgians
in the weeks ahead. DCM has demarched the Prime Minister's
National Security Advisor and Ambassador will raise the issue
with the Prime Minister when they meet on June 6 and we will
keep this issue before senior government leaders. After
elections on June 10, there will be an extended period while
a new government is formed during which the caretaker
government is prevented from making any new commitments. We
believe that no decision on changes to Belgium's posture in
ISAF will be made until a new government is in office; likely
not until mid-summer. End comment. Fox
.
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2012
TAGS: NATO PINS PREL MOPS MARR BE AF
SUBJECT: NATO, AFGHANISTAN, AND BELGIUM: JUNE 10 ELECTIONS
LIMIT SCOPE OF POSITIVE BELGIAN RESPONSE
REF: SECSTATE 71547
Classified By: DCM William Imbrie, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Belgian FM De Gucht
told DCM on May 30 that the June 10 federal polls limit
Belgium's ability to be responsive to NATO's request. De
Gucht said that while his party (the party of the Foreign and
Prime Ministers) was sympathetic to the request from NATO,
they are unable to take action on it pending the elections
and formation of a new government.
2. (C) A senior aide to De Gucht told us the government has
already agreed to NATO's request for Belgian Forces to remain
at Kabul Airport until April 7, 2008, recently announced by
Defense Minister Flahaut. The aide commented that recent
suicide bombings in northern Afghanistan will make selling an
expanded Belgian presence in Afghanistan even more difficult.
3. (C) Comment: We will keep this issue before the Belgians
in the weeks ahead. DCM has demarched the Prime Minister's
National Security Advisor and Ambassador will raise the issue
with the Prime Minister when they meet on June 6 and we will
keep this issue before senior government leaders. After
elections on June 10, there will be an extended period while
a new government is formed during which the caretaker
government is prevented from making any new commitments. We
believe that no decision on changes to Belgium's posture in
ISAF will be made until a new government is in office; likely
not until mid-summer. End comment. Fox
.