BELGIUM:DEMARCHE ON CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION AT THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003247 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO IO/UNP JOHN MARIZ E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017 TAGS: UNGA ETRD PHUM UN CU PREL BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM:DEMARCHE ON CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION AT THE UNGA REF: STATE 148506 Classified By: A/POLCOUNS SHARON BOWMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Poloff discussed reftel points with Michel Versailles and Benedicte Frankinet, Director of the MFA's Office of UN Affairs. Versailles said Belgium's past voting patterns had favored Cuba's resolution. While they were still reviewing the resolution, they saw no elements at this point to change Belgium's voting pattern. Poloff reiterated reftel arguments. On whether Belgium would deliver Explanations of Vote expressing concern about Cuba's human rights situation, Versailles was noncommittal, but pointed to last year's EU Declaration on Cuba and its criticism of Cuba's human rights violations as something Belgium supported. ¶2. (C) We will continue to push on this issue. BUSH .