Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1427
2009-10-23 17:57:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UN BE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9593
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001427 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

SECRET/NOFORN/ORCON; STATE PASS EUR/WE AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UN BE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH
BELGIAN FM LETERME

BRUSSELS 00001427 001.4 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Gutman for reason 1.4 (B) and (D).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001427

NOFORN
SIPDIS

SECRET/NOFORN/ORCON; STATE PASS EUR/WE AND IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UN BE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH
BELGIAN FM LETERME

BRUSSELS 00001427 001.4 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador Gutman for reason 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (S//NF//ORCON) Summary: Ambassador Gutman met October 22
with Foreign Minister Leterme and his Chief of Staff Frans
Van Daele. FM Leterme made a strong push for Louis Michel
for the next UNGA presidency. Ambassador Gutman questioned
Michel's friendliness to the U.S. Van Daele termed the U.S.
perception a misreading, noting how close Michel was to
former Secretary of State Powell and the praise he received
for keeping a reference to Israel out of the first Durban
Conference declaration. The Ambassador made no commitment
beyond looking into the background. Leterme also raised
Belgian citizens, concerns with the Cuba 5. Ambassador
Gutman thanked the GOB for its cooperation on Guantanamo; at
this point, he suggested we attempt to handle the Tunisian
detainees as a Justice matter, allowing the MFA to focus on
other detainees. The Ambassador also addressed Belgian
concerns on The Terrorist Financing Tracking Program (TFTP),
saying that the EU was concerned with data safeguards and
that he also viewed TFTP as a Justice matter. The Ambassador
told Leterme he would like to see Belgium's stature rise,
noting the GOB could do more in helping close Guantanamo and
asked Belgium to fill gaps left by the Germans and Dutch in
Afghanistan. End Summary.

Introduction
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador Gutman worked to develop a closer working
relationship during his official courtesy call with FM
Leterme on October 22. FM Leterme was joined by Chief of
Staff Frans Van Daele during the cordial meeting. Leterme
had recently returned from the Taskforce on International
Financial Transaction for Development and said the main topic
was the Tobin tax on speculative currency transactions but
said Israel was discussed as well. Leterme asked the
Ambassador to attend the November 11 Armistice Day event in
Ieper. Leterme raised Belgian citizens' concerns with the

detention of the "Cuba 5" now serving varying prison terms in
the United States (Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon
Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, and Rene Gonzalez) for a variety
of crimes.

UNGA Presidency
--------------


3. (C) FM Leterme said Belgium wanted U.S. support for
Belgian Louis Michel's candidacy for the UNGA presidency from
2010-2011. Ambassador Gutman said the Michel era (Note:
Michel served as FM from 1999-2004. End Note) was not a
positive one for U.S. - Belgian relations. Van Daele replied
that though the period was not ideal, implicating Louis
Michel as the reason would be a misreading of events. Van
Daele said Michel was close to former Secretary of State
Colin Powell, and asked Ambassador Gutman to meet with him.
The Ambassador underscored that the U.S. was unhappy with
Belgium's abstention on the Goldstone Report. Van Daele said
Michel was personally responsible for keeping a reference to
Israel out of the first Durban Conference on Racism
declaration, and always made a point of meeting Democrats.
The Ambassador made no commitment beyond looking into the
background.

Guantanamo
--------------


4. (C) Ambassador Gutman thanked FM Leterme for Belgium's
assistance in accepting a Guantanamo refugee. Leterme and
Van Daele both agreed all had gone well with the transfer.
Leterme asked about the Tunisians, and Ambassador Gutman said
he had discussed the issue that morning with JustMin De
Clerck and the U.S. Department of Justice. He suggested that
successful cooperation between the Ministry and Department of
Justice on this issue would allow the MFA to focus on other
detainees.

TFTP
--------------


5. (S//NF//ORCON) The Ambassador raised the challenge of
finding a solution for TFTP. Leterme commented that under
Belgian law, there was a problem with requesting large
batches of data. Ambassador Gutman said the U.S. was only

BRUSSELS 00001427 002.3 OF 002


searching for focused data within the larger batches supplied
by Swift's systems. In response to concerns of Belgium being
in the lead, Ambassador Gutman noted it was the EU seeking
the data and Belgium simply facilitated the EU requests. He
said he would follow up with Justice Minister De Clerck and
Chief Prosecutor Delmulle to eliminate political pressure on
the MFA.

Ambassador Gutman's Goal for Belgium
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador Gutman said he would like Belgium to do
more in closing Guantanamo, and he asked that Belgium step up
to fill the gaps in Afghanistan that may be created if other
European partners falter. He suggested it would be a
wonderful opportunity for Belgium to increase its prominence
and that both issues were of critical importance to his
President and country. Leterme agreed with the Ambassador to
continue to explore what Ambassador Gutman characterized as
"win-win situations."

BIO
---


7. (C) Leterme is a passionate fan of the soccer team
Standard Liege. Liege is a Walloon city, and Leterme
supports the team even though he hails from Flanders where he
is one of the most popular politicians. Ambassador Gutman
and FM Leterme agreed to attend a match on a particular day
in January.

GUTMAN
.