Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS123
2009-01-28 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS
how-toVZCZCXRO7207 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #0123 0281640 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281640Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8517 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 4186 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0114 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0310 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT PRIORITY 0899 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 9090 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0257 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 1049 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0272 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 8451
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000123
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL MARR MOPS PHSAQ PARM NATO EU IS
SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS
INTERDICTION EFFORT
REF: A. STATE 6469
B. BRUSSELS 84
Classified By: USEU Charge d'Affires, a.i., Christopher Murray for reas
ons 1.5 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000123
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL MARR MOPS PHSAQ PARM NATO EU IS
SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS
INTERDICTION EFFORT
REF: A. STATE 6469
B. BRUSSELS 84
Classified By: USEU Charge d'Affires, a.i., Christopher Murray for reas
ons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy Political Counselor delivered reftel demarche
January 27 to Wolfgang Barwinkel, Director of the Middle East
Division at the Middle East Maghreb Unit of the EU Council.
(Note: Head of Unit Christian Jouret was traveling with
Javier Solana in the Middle East.) Barwinkel noted that the
EU Foreign Ministers, meeting January 26-27 in Brussels
(septel) included reference to stopping arms smuggling to
Gaza in its conclusions. It listed as one of the issues to
be addressed "an effective mechanism to prevent arms and
ammunition smuggling to the Gaza Strip." The Council also
"welcomes the commitment of the United States to contribute
to stopping arms smuggling to Gaza and is prepared to
identify ways to cooperate in such efforts." The Council did
not get into any further specifics on mechanisms for stopping
the weapons flow, but Barwinkel noted that some individual
countries have announced their readiness to contribute to a
maritime effort. With Solana and other Middle East officials
traveling in the region, Barwinkel did not have any further
official response to the request.
2. (C) Barwinkel went on to note that the discussions at the
Foreign Ministers meeting (as reflected in the "Conclusions")
focused heavily on broader issues of humanitarian assistance
and the importance of opening Gaza. He said that there is
considerable disgruntlement over the perception that Israel
has not upheld Foreign Minister Livni's commitment (Ref B) to
allow humanitarian assistance in to Gaza. Israel has
restricted, Barwinkel said, the quantify but also the range
of goods, to that which can be most narrowly defined as
humanitarian. It has not permitted in goods (such as more
sophisticated medical equipment) that it defines as
"reconstruction," to the annoyance of many in the EU.
Barwinkel also said that there is a concern that the tunnels
in particular not be looked at just in terms of arms
smuggling. He noted that, with Gaza closed, the tunnels have
served as a "safety valve," and as the means through which
Gazans have acquired essential goods not allowed by the
Israelis. Many in the EU were focused on the need to open
Gaza at the same time as efforts go forward to stop arms
flows.
3. (C) Barwinkel asked for further details on the proposed
expert workshop. USEU will convey information about the
workshop to technical experts, and requests any details that
we can share.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL MARR MOPS PHSAQ PARM NATO EU IS
SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON PARTICIPATION IN GAZA ARMS
INTERDICTION EFFORT
REF: A. STATE 6469
B. BRUSSELS 84
Classified By: USEU Charge d'Affires, a.i., Christopher Murray for reas
ons 1.5 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy Political Counselor delivered reftel demarche
January 27 to Wolfgang Barwinkel, Director of the Middle East
Division at the Middle East Maghreb Unit of the EU Council.
(Note: Head of Unit Christian Jouret was traveling with
Javier Solana in the Middle East.) Barwinkel noted that the
EU Foreign Ministers, meeting January 26-27 in Brussels
(septel) included reference to stopping arms smuggling to
Gaza in its conclusions. It listed as one of the issues to
be addressed "an effective mechanism to prevent arms and
ammunition smuggling to the Gaza Strip." The Council also
"welcomes the commitment of the United States to contribute
to stopping arms smuggling to Gaza and is prepared to
identify ways to cooperate in such efforts." The Council did
not get into any further specifics on mechanisms for stopping
the weapons flow, but Barwinkel noted that some individual
countries have announced their readiness to contribute to a
maritime effort. With Solana and other Middle East officials
traveling in the region, Barwinkel did not have any further
official response to the request.
2. (C) Barwinkel went on to note that the discussions at the
Foreign Ministers meeting (as reflected in the "Conclusions")
focused heavily on broader issues of humanitarian assistance
and the importance of opening Gaza. He said that there is
considerable disgruntlement over the perception that Israel
has not upheld Foreign Minister Livni's commitment (Ref B) to
allow humanitarian assistance in to Gaza. Israel has
restricted, Barwinkel said, the quantify but also the range
of goods, to that which can be most narrowly defined as
humanitarian. It has not permitted in goods (such as more
sophisticated medical equipment) that it defines as
"reconstruction," to the annoyance of many in the EU.
Barwinkel also said that there is a concern that the tunnels
in particular not be looked at just in terms of arms
smuggling. He noted that, with Gaza closed, the tunnels have
served as a "safety valve," and as the means through which
Gazans have acquired essential goods not allowed by the
Israelis. Many in the EU were focused on the need to open
Gaza at the same time as efforts go forward to stop arms
flows.
3. (C) Barwinkel asked for further details on the proposed
expert workshop. USEU will convey information about the
workshop to technical experts, and requests any details that
we can share.
MURRAY
.