PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE: BELGIAN ATTENDANCE AND

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003492 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAL IS BE SUBJECT: PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE: BELGIAN ATTENDANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALESTINIANS REF: (A) STATE 163955 (B) STATE 165370 (C) STATE 165490 ¶1. (U) Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht will represent the Royal Government of Belgium at the Dec. 17 Paris donors conference for Palestine. Belgium will contribute USD 38.75 million (26.18 Euros) to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in CY 2008, and a total of over USD 92 million (more than 62 million Euros) for 2009-2011. As such, Belgium believes that, given its size, it is right up there with other key European contributors to the PA (a list that includes Norway and the Netherlands) and wants to have that recognized. Having convinced the French to include Belgium in the Dec. 7 planning meeting in Paris, the MFA hoped that other nations will "finally" recognize the kingdom's consistent important contributions to the Palestinians. ¶2. (SBU) In response to our points, delivered to MFA Deputy Chief of Staff Jean-Luc Bodson, MFA Deputy Chief of Staff on December 11, Bodson confirmed that FM Karel De Gucht will represent Belgium at the December 17 Paris conference. He then turned the meeting over to Levant desk officer Hendrik Van De Velde who had attended the Dec. 7 planning meeting in Paris. Van de Velde reported what Belgium had announced in Paris: that, starting from a baseline of 2006 contributions totalling 13.59 M Euros (USD 20.11),Belgium had and will increase its Euro contributions to the Palestinian Authority in the following categories per the following timeline: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Direct bilateral cooperation (education, local 'collectives,' 10 M 15 M 10 M 10 M 10 M health) Budget aid (via EC/World Bank trust funds) 0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 Food aid 5 5 5 5 5 Indirect (NGO) cooperation .75 .75 .75 .75 .75 Local NGO's .50 .50 .50 .50 .50 UNWRA - Multilateral cooperation 1.00 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 UNWRA - Flemish Region .55 .33 Educational Scholarships (MIP) .20 .25 .25 .25 .25 Other (Conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy) .25 .25 .25 .25 .25 PESC and civilian crisis management (EUPOLCOPPS, EUBAM Rafah) .60 .60 TOTAL EUROS 18.85 M 26.18 M 20.5 M 20.75 M 21 M USD 27.90 M 38.75 M 30.34 M 30.71 M 31.08 M FOX. .