Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3492
2007-12-12 16:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE: BELGIAN ATTENDANCE AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #3492 3461613 ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD3C66D8 AMG9988-695) P 121613Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6802 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
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
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.
.
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.
.