Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS1894
2007-06-08 15:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIAN VIEWS ON IRAN SANCTIONS -- KEEP GOING
how-toVZCZCXRO0065 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHBS #1894 1591555 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081555Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5611 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001894
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2012
TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC KTFN BE IR
SUBJECT: BELGIAN VIEWS ON IRAN SANCTIONS -- KEEP GOING
AFTER THE MONEY
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001894
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2012
TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC KTFN BE IR
SUBJECT: BELGIAN VIEWS ON IRAN SANCTIONS -- KEEP GOING
AFTER THE MONEY
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Werner Bauwens (protect),director of the Belgian
MFA's non-pro division, discussed UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 with
visiting A/S Paula DeSutter. Describing 1747 as more
effective than the other because of it targeted specific
names and because it reflected a broad, carefully cultivated
consensus within the EU, Bauwens argued that only financial
sanctions will "have teeth." Both Iranian and Belgian
companies were "very nervous," he said, by the prospect of
financial sanctions coming into force. This fear offered an
opportunity to influence behavior.
2. (C) In the past several weeks, Bauwens noted that Belgian
banks had requested exceptions to sanctions regulations for
companies waiting for Iranian payments via Bank Sepah's
branch in Germany. The companies normally were unaware of
Sepah's involvement in making payments, Bauwens claimed, or
that any funds transfers they made to Iran were using the
bank's facilities. In the meantime, Bauwens indicated that
the Belgian government (which chaired the UN's Iran Sanctions
Committee) repeatedly has reminded its firms for over a year
about the serious risks of doing business with Iran. They
were now starting to get the message and, even better, the
clampdown on transactions via Bank Sepah had "blown" another
channel for conducting business with Tehran. (Note: Embassy
will follow up to ensure that the picture Bauwens paints
about supervision of the Belgian business world is as rosy as
Bauwens paints the picture. End note)
3. (U) A/S DeSutter has not cleared this cable. Fox
.
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2012
TAGS: PREL EFIN ETTC KTFN BE IR
SUBJECT: BELGIAN VIEWS ON IRAN SANCTIONS -- KEEP GOING
AFTER THE MONEY
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)
1. (C) Werner Bauwens (protect),director of the Belgian
MFA's non-pro division, discussed UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 with
visiting A/S Paula DeSutter. Describing 1747 as more
effective than the other because of it targeted specific
names and because it reflected a broad, carefully cultivated
consensus within the EU, Bauwens argued that only financial
sanctions will "have teeth." Both Iranian and Belgian
companies were "very nervous," he said, by the prospect of
financial sanctions coming into force. This fear offered an
opportunity to influence behavior.
2. (C) In the past several weeks, Bauwens noted that Belgian
banks had requested exceptions to sanctions regulations for
companies waiting for Iranian payments via Bank Sepah's
branch in Germany. The companies normally were unaware of
Sepah's involvement in making payments, Bauwens claimed, or
that any funds transfers they made to Iran were using the
bank's facilities. In the meantime, Bauwens indicated that
the Belgian government (which chaired the UN's Iran Sanctions
Committee) repeatedly has reminded its firms for over a year
about the serious risks of doing business with Iran. They
were now starting to get the message and, even better, the
clampdown on transactions via Bank Sepah had "blown" another
channel for conducting business with Tehran. (Note: Embassy
will follow up to ensure that the picture Bauwens paints
about supervision of the Belgian business world is as rosy as
Bauwens paints the picture. End note)
3. (U) A/S DeSutter has not cleared this cable. Fox
.