BELGIUM: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON UNSC SOMALIA PIRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001891

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EUR/WE AND IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: KCRM PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT SO BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON UNSC SOMALIA PIRACY
RESOLUTION

REF: SECSTATE 130496

Classified By: Acting Political Economic Counselor Robert Kiene

(C) According to Christophe DeBassompierre of the MFA's
Security Council Directorate, Belgium shares the U.S. concern
with third countries' reactions to Operative Paragraph (OP)
3, but does not support OP4 as written. On OP3, the GOB is
wary of countries attempting to give the coordinating task to
the UN. Belgium is not opposed to cooperation, but as an EU
member state participating in an anti-piracy mission, Belgium
is opposed to restrictions on activities and seeks a
mechanism with as much openness as possible. On OP4,
DeBassompierre said the GOB understand the reasoning behind
it, but is concerned that it is written so broadly and
exaggerated that it could condone almost any action. The GOB
also wants to avoid opening the door to more intervention in
Somalia. Belgium thinks the piracy debate should remain
separate from any wider discussion of the security and
political situation in Somalia.
.