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
.