BELGIUM SUPPORTS AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000897 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018 TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS PHUM IS BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM SUPPORTS AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PALESTINIAN CIVIL POLICE AND RULE OF LAW EFFORTS REF: STATE 62133 Classified By: MGurian for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points June 12 to Hendrik Van de Velde, MFA Middle East Peace Process office. Van de Velde said Belgium is very supportive of the efforts for the Berlin Conference goals and they intend to pledge 100,000 to 200,000 Euros at the conference. He said Belgium also supports the EU mission for the security sector and rule of law and would, in fact, like to contribute more bilaterally for judicial reform and rule of law development. Van de Velde pointed out that compared to last year, Belgium sees progress on the ground with the Palestinian Chief of Police being more engaged and improvements through training in police work; however, a weak judicial system undermines police efforts. At this time, FM Karel De Gucht plans to head a delegation of two or three (yet to be named). ¶2. (C) Van de Velde noted Belgium has a five year program of bilateral aid to Palestine. They started in 2007 and will spend around 86 million Euros by the time the program ends in ¶2112. They are concentrating now on education and civil institution building, but would like to add a rule of law component within this aid package. FOX .