Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS157
2008-01-31 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIANS SUPPORT IDEA OF STATEMENT ON SYRIAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0157 0311607 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 311607Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6951 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0299 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0259
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000157
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018
TAGS: PREL KMPI SY BE
SUBJECT: BELGIANS SUPPORT IDEA OF STATEMENT ON SYRIAN
NATIONAL COUNCIL
REF: STATE 171106
Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H Andrews, Reasons (a) and
(b)
(C) Belgian FM De Gucht's senior staff officer for Middle
East matters said the Minister "probably" would issue a
strong statement supporting the Syrian National Council. De
Gucht was out of the country, but the staff officer promised
to raise the matter with him immediately. The Minister has
closely followed developments in Syria since a visit last
year led to a press conference in Damascus during which the
Minister slammed Syria'a human rights record. Our contact
indicated also that the Belgian government's final action on
this issue would rest on their judgment of the utility
between issuing a unilateral statement, and doing so through
the European Union. Fox
.