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
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