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. .