Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3539
2007-12-21 16:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM'S KING ALBERT SWEARS IN VERHOFSTADT III

Tags:  PGOV BE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8131
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #3539 3551647
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211647Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6830
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003539 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM'S KING ALBERT SWEARS IN VERHOFSTADT III
GOVERNMENT

REF: BRUSSELS 3523

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003539

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM'S KING ALBERT SWEARS IN VERHOFSTADT III
GOVERNMENT

REF: BRUSSELS 3523


1. (U) King Albert II of Belgium swore in PM Guy
Verhofstadt's third cabinet during the morning of December
21, 2007. Verhofstadt followed up this action with a speech
outlining the ten-point plan that the interim government
intended to carry out before leaving office on Easter Sunday,
March 23, 2008. In addition to promising a new budget,
pension reform, and measures to shore up declining purchasing
power, Verhofstadt made a strong plea for moderation and
dialogue across the language divide. We have emailed the
full cabinet list to EUR/WE.


2. (U) The Prime Minister indicated that the Verhofstadt III
government also would "further" the current military
operations in the DRC, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Kosovo. He
gave no additional details. He described the anti-terror
arrests made earlier on December 21, and promised full
engagement in New York at the UNSC. The remaining foreign
policy elements of his address were unremarkable -- support
for an EU with a liberal economy and a strong social, the
Kyoto accords, and the recent agreement in Bali.


3. (SBU) In a discussion on December 20, the Prime Minister
told the Ambassador that he was confident about being able to
reach an agreement on constitutional reform issues before
March 23. He intended to announce the outlines of a plan
early in January. Among other steps, he will establish a
"Committee of Twelve" that can oversee the reform process.
Bush
.