Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1249
2009-09-16 15:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ORAL ARGUMENTS ON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1249 2591535 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 161535Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9455 INFO RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0013 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0001 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0297
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001249
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND EUR/SCE:MTOUSSAINT, PPFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: AORC PREL ICJ KV BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ORAL ARGUMENTS ON
KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE AT ICJ
REF: STATE 90199
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reason 1.4(b
) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001249
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND EUR/SCE:MTOUSSAINT, PPFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: AORC PREL ICJ KV BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ORAL ARGUMENTS ON
KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE AT ICJ
REF: STATE 90199
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reason 1.4(b
) and (d).
1. (C) On September 8, Poloff met with Luc Liebaut, Director
of the Department of South-East Europe in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. Liebaut said that Belgium will not
participate in oral arguments on Kosovo's declaration of
independence in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Liebaut said that the Ministry's position is that Belgium
does not have to justify its decision to recognize Kosovo,
which he termed a legitimate, but politically based, decision
by the GOB.
2. (C) Liebaut observed that as in Bosnia, there is little
chance that Kosovo will be able to rapidly advance to EU
membership and a similar standard of governance as exists in
the rest of Europe. The Kosovars have little experience in
administration, he said, and no clue what is needed to
integrate with European norms. The country's institutions
are very weak and the implementation of legislation is poor.
Many, if not most, governmental decisions are made without
transparency and local clans have inordinate power. While
Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro are making progress toward
eventual membership in the EU, Kosovo has not even reached a
stage where a visa facilitation agreement with the EU is
possible, he said. Nevertheless, he said, the Kosovars are
becoming frustrated because they think highly of themselves
and tend to put the blame on others for their failings.
Their political leadership is "spoiled", he concluded.
3. (C) Asked about Belgian views of the future of KFOR, the
NATO operation for security in Kosovo, Liebaut said that the
14500 troops now in Kosovo can be gradually reduced.
However, KFOR is needed so long as the Serbian parallel
institutions still exist, he said. He observed that the
European Rule of Law Mission (EULEX),the EU's assistance
program for judicial, police and customs improvements, has a
role in helping Pristina to assert authority over the whole
of Kosovo. However, he expressed concern that EULEX has been
"stabbed in the back" by the Kosovo government and had its
legitimacy questioned, its reputation demonized and its
property vandalized. Cooperation and help is needed from the
Kosovo government, he said, or EULEX will suffer the same
gradual diminution of authority that affected UNMIK, the UN
program for governing Kosovo until its own structures were
deemed sufficient. This will be unfortunate, he said,
because EULEX has the best chance for guiding Kosovo toward
eventual EU membership. Liebaut said he will appreciate
United States efforts to help the Kosovo leadership
understand the importance of EULEX to Kosovo's future.
GUTMAN
.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND EUR/SCE:MTOUSSAINT, PPFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: AORC PREL ICJ KV BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ORAL ARGUMENTS ON
KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE AT ICJ
REF: STATE 90199
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reason 1.4(b
) and (d).
1. (C) On September 8, Poloff met with Luc Liebaut, Director
of the Department of South-East Europe in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. Liebaut said that Belgium will not
participate in oral arguments on Kosovo's declaration of
independence in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Liebaut said that the Ministry's position is that Belgium
does not have to justify its decision to recognize Kosovo,
which he termed a legitimate, but politically based, decision
by the GOB.
2. (C) Liebaut observed that as in Bosnia, there is little
chance that Kosovo will be able to rapidly advance to EU
membership and a similar standard of governance as exists in
the rest of Europe. The Kosovars have little experience in
administration, he said, and no clue what is needed to
integrate with European norms. The country's institutions
are very weak and the implementation of legislation is poor.
Many, if not most, governmental decisions are made without
transparency and local clans have inordinate power. While
Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro are making progress toward
eventual membership in the EU, Kosovo has not even reached a
stage where a visa facilitation agreement with the EU is
possible, he said. Nevertheless, he said, the Kosovars are
becoming frustrated because they think highly of themselves
and tend to put the blame on others for their failings.
Their political leadership is "spoiled", he concluded.
3. (C) Asked about Belgian views of the future of KFOR, the
NATO operation for security in Kosovo, Liebaut said that the
14500 troops now in Kosovo can be gradually reduced.
However, KFOR is needed so long as the Serbian parallel
institutions still exist, he said. He observed that the
European Rule of Law Mission (EULEX),the EU's assistance
program for judicial, police and customs improvements, has a
role in helping Pristina to assert authority over the whole
of Kosovo. However, he expressed concern that EULEX has been
"stabbed in the back" by the Kosovo government and had its
legitimacy questioned, its reputation demonized and its
property vandalized. Cooperation and help is needed from the
Kosovo government, he said, or EULEX will suffer the same
gradual diminution of authority that affected UNMIK, the UN
program for governing Kosovo until its own structures were
deemed sufficient. This will be unfortunate, he said,
because EULEX has the best chance for guiding Kosovo toward
eventual EU membership. Liebaut said he will appreciate
United States efforts to help the Kosovo leadership
understand the importance of EULEX to Kosovo's future.
GUTMAN
.