AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS SKEPTICISM OF BELGIUM'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001703

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL MNUC SENV BE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CONFRONTS SKEPTICISM OF BELGIUM'S
ABILITY TO LEAD IN MEETING WITH BELGIAN SENATORS

Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Robert Kiene for rea
sons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador hosted a lunch attended by
five members of the Belgian Senate Commission on Foreign
Affairs and Defense on December 7. In their first meeting
with the Ambassador, the Senators shared their concern about
Central Africa, the International Criminal Court (ICC),
nuclear proliferation, the environment, the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG),trade protectionism and human rights
(specifically for women and homosexuals). The Ambassador
urged the Senators to act as leaders within Europe on solving
the difficult issues of Afghanistan and Guantanamo. At least
one Senator suggested that Belgium is not a natural leader
among European nations, but the Commission's chair suggested
that Belgium's role in Afghanistan and Guantanamo closure
should be on the Commission's agenda. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Five members of the Belgian Senate Commission on
Foreign Affairs and Defense attended a lunch on December 7 at
the Ambassador's residence, including Marleen Temmerman
(Sp.a) (the Commission's Chair),Alain Destexhe (MR),
Philippe Mahoux (PS),Bart Tommelein (Open VLD),Elke
Tindemans (CD&V),and Eric Gardinael (Staff Member of the
Commission).

THE SENATORS' CONCERNS
--------------


3. (C) After a brief welcome, the Ambassador invited the
Senators to list their specific areas of concern, which he
then proceeded to address. Temmerman mentioned Afghanistan,
nuclear disarmament, the need to improve official development
assistance in accordance with the MDGs, and women's rights.
Destexhe said that he would welcome greater U.S. involvement
in Central Africa in support of the peace process and
economic development. He requested the USG to review its
policy towards the ICC, so that that the ICC will be
strengthened in its efforts to prosecute genocidal crimes
committed in Rwanda and the Congo. Mahoux's concerns were
with nuclear disarmament and the outcome of the COP 15 Summit
on environmental issues in Copenhagen. Tommelein repeated
the Senate's priorities in Central Africa and added a plea
for "real tradpm. He expressed
pleasur@ will attend the Copenh

4. (C) Destexhe said thly keep a
record of such crimes, he Qaid. He added that, according to
the World BQnk, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is t(e
least favorable place to do business in the world and the USG
should do more to encourage eform. Temmerman said that the
"culture oQ impunity" for rape is the most significant
o"stacle to implementing a roadmap to peace in the DRC. She
said that DNA test kits cost 100 dolars each, but that more
widespread availabilQty of such tests could help bring more
offQnders to court and convict them.


5. (C) The Ambassador recalled for the Senators the
Secretary's recent 11-day trip to Central Africa. The USG is
trying to encourage the use of cellular phones as a tool to
prevent rapes. However, he said, Belgium holds the keys to
changing behavior in the DRC, and in many other areas.
Proposals by the U.S. often encounter knee-jerk opposition in
the UN and elsewhere. Similarly, other countries may be seen
by some as having ulterior motives. However, when Belgium
speaks, he said, it creates a different dynamic that can be

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even more effective. At the same time, he said, the sincere
concern of the United States for human rights can be gauged
by the people President Obama has chosen to lead the State
Department. For example, Harold Koh, the Legal Advisor, is
an expert on human rights and others who are equally notable
for their scholarship on issues of justice, gay rights and
labor unions have been appointed.

OBAMA AND DISARMAMENT
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador told the Senators that President Obama
is committed to a nuclear-free world. One has to watch the
President as he speaks in order to judge his sincerity on any
issue he addresses, including nonproliferation and
disarmament. Who is thinking most about how to achieve that
goal, he asked rhetorically. The President would like to
move as fast as possible, but not unilaterally and not
without coordination with our allies, the Ambassador said.
It is important to maintain the security of all concerned,
from Bahrain to Israel to Europe.

CLIMATE CHANGE
--------------


7. (C) The United States walked out of the Kyoto
negotiations, but is present in force at Copenhagen, the
Ambassador continued. A climate change czar, Carol Browner,
has been appointed. The U.S. has promised to reduce carbon
emissions by 17 percent. Belgium can help by working on ways
to finance cooperation on climate change by developing
countries and to avoid politicization of the proceedings in
Copenhagen. He agreed that avoiding protectionism is an
important objective.

SKEPTICISM OF BELGIUM'S POTENTIAL
TO LEAD FINDS A VOICE
--------------


8. (C) The world is changing, the Ambassador said. Decisions
are not made by the U.S. alone, nor even by the U.S. and
Europe. Even the G7 has difficulty addressing world economic
problems and the discussion has expanded to a G20, or the
G-20 and its observers, he said. India and countries in
Latin America hold a piece of the puzzle of peace and
prosperity and in that context, Belgium has a role to play as
a moral voice and should be a leader among Europeans.
Belgium is not seen as having an ax to grind, the Ambassador
said, and continued by saying that there are no small
countries that have great leaders. As an example, Guantanamo
could be closed in three weeks if European leaders met and
decided they wanted it closed immediately. He suggested that
Belgium could take the lead in calling such a meeting. He
added that that kind of leadership would have no impact on
the regional, linguistic and political differences that exist
in Belgium but to the contrary would bring all Belgians
closer together. In Afghanistan, he continued, the goal of
security needs to be met so that civilian assistance can be
effective. Belgium can and should step up in both areas, he
concluded.


9. (C) Senator Destexhe asked whether the Ambassador would
specify the number of detainees that Belgium should take, but
the Ambassador demurred while insisting that Belgium should
nevertheless be a leader in this regard. Destexhe said that
the Ambassador's words seemed very "messianistic" to him, and
suggested that that is difficult for Belgium. The process by
which Herman Van Rompuy became President of the European
Council is emblematic of the European world view, he said,
even though it was "not very democratic". However, Senator
Temmerman said that the issue of Belgium's role could be put
on the agenda of the commission for discussion. The
Ambassador observed that there is no disagreement between the
Senators and the United States over their goals, it is only
necessary to look for ways to achieve them.

GUTMAN
.