Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1249
2008-08-13 09:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

WITHIN DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS, BELGIUM

Tags:  PARM PREL ETTC AORC BE 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBS #1249 2260904
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130904Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7847
INFO RUCNNSG/NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001249 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AORC BE
SUBJECT: WITHIN DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS, BELGIUM
WILL SUPPORT THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP DRAFT EXCEPTION
FOR INDIA

REF: STATE 085948

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001249

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AORC BE
SUBJECT: WITHIN DOMESTIC POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS, BELGIUM
WILL SUPPORT THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP DRAFT EXCEPTION
FOR INDIA

REF: STATE 085948


1. (SBU) POL/E Chief delivered reftel demarche to Michel
Peetermans, Chief of Service, Belgian MFA, in the company of
his French and British counterparts. Peetermans said that
MFA non-proliferation expert Werner Bauwens would attend the
August 21-22 Extraordinary Plenary in Vienna. Noting that
Belgium is not a member of the board of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group, Peetermans said that Belgium would not oppose the text
of the draft declaration. Belgium understands the arguments
in favor of the U.S. approach.


2. (SBU) However, he continued, Belgium's domestic issues
will make it difficult for Belgium to be in the forefront of
supporters for the text, a reference to the commitment by a
previous government coalition to phase out all of Belgium's
nuclear power plants by the year 2015. In that context,
Belgium will expect India to move ahead on other issues such
as a special safeguard agreement with the IAEA and to expect
India to negotiate an additional protocol. Belgium will also
want India to support multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff
Treaty (FMCT). Peetermans was pleased to learn that the U.S.
would be seeking a similar commitment as required under the
Hyde Act.


3. (SBU) Belgium accepts that India clearly has no interest
in undermining non-proliferation efforts but will also want
India to refrain from holding further nuclear tests and, in
the longer run, to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
.