BELGIUM LIKELY TO VOTE YES ON DE-ALERTING, ABSTAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001649 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM AND ISN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2018 TAGS: PARM MNUC UNGA PREL BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM LIKELY TO VOTE YES ON DE-ALERTING, ABSTAIN ON DEPLETED URANIUM IN UN FIRST COMMITTEE REF: A. STATE 111744 ¶B. STATE 107247 Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reason 1.4(b ) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Belgium intends to vote yes on the UN First Committee resolution on de-alerting after abstaining in 2007. It will not co-sponsor the resolution, but it does want to increase pressure on nuclear weapons states to disarm. It would like to see more attention paid to targeting of nuclear weapons as well. The GOB will continue to abstain from the depleted uranium (DU) resolution. That position may change to support of the resolution if scientific study cannot produce sufficient evidence of safety before a 2007 Belgian law banning DU weapons takes effect in 2009. End Comment. DE-ALERTING -------------- ¶2. (C) On October 23 Poloff discussed Belgium's position on potential resolutions in the UNGA First Committee with Werner Bauwens, Director of the MFA Office of Non-Proliferation and Export Controls. Bauwens said that Belgium is likely to vote yes on the de-alerting resolution. Bawuens was aware of U.S. opposition to the resolution and of discussion of the issue in the NATO Council. However, Bauwens said, the significance of the First Committee and disarmament exceeds the NATO Council's mandate. Since last year, he said, the tide of public debate has been turning in favor of renewed efforts for greater disarmament. He sees a potential for additional, actual de-alerting in the future and expects there will be a lot of diplomatic action around the issue. As a result, he said, the de-alerting resolution is "a useful signal with which Belgium would want to be associated." It may facilitate progress at the next NPT conference and put pressure on nuclear weapon states to further disarmament, he said. ¶3. (C) Bauwens continued that there is still language in the resolution with which the Belgians are not satisfied. He does not want the discussions in the First Committee to "get emotional", either. Bauwens recognized that NATO has already significantly de-alerted its tactical nuclear arsenal and decreased its stockpile of weapons. When talking about de-alerting, UN members must not forget that de-targeting is important as well, he said. Russia in particular can be criticized about its ambiguous position on targeting, as some Russian officials have made rash statements linked to missile defense in the Czech Republic and Poland. On the other hand, he said, Russian MFA and MOD officials had disavowed such intentions when the EU protested, which he considered a responsible action. Bauwens said that the Belgians will not co-sponsor the de-alerting resolution, as such vigorous support of the resolution would not be consistent with Belgium's status as a NATO ally. DEPLETED URANIUM -------------- ¶4. (C) Bauwens noted that the Belgian Parliament passed a law in 2007 banning DU weapons from its territory. However, he said, the government has succeeded in delaying implementation of the law until 2009 to allow time for more study of the health risks of the substance. He said IAEA and WHO reports have been submitted to the Secretary General which do not show clear evidence of a danger to public health, in his opinion. Because of the 2007 law, Belgium would like to see evidence that will establish the risks one way or the other. Since the First Committee resolution calls for such research, as it did last year, Belgium will stick to its abstention despite accusations by domestic politicians that abstention is inconsistent with the 2007 law. Bauwens hopes that future reports to the Secretary General and other international organizations will establish an absence of health risks, so that implementation of the 2007 law can be headed off and Belgium can continue at least to abstain from future UN resolutions on the issue. .