Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS289
2009-03-03 11:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: GOB RESPONSE TO URGENT MONUC DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0289 0621119 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031119Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8655 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0255 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1662 RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0019 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0234 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0032 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0404 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0513 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1814 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0568 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2200 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0611 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 8767 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0819 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0280 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000289
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AF/C CHRISTOPHER LAMORA AND IO/PSC HEATHER VON
BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019
TAGS: KPKO PREL PHUM UNSC CG BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: GOB RESPONSE TO URGENT MONUC DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 18863
Classified By: A/DCM Richard Eason for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000289
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AF/C CHRISTOPHER LAMORA AND IO/PSC HEATHER VON
BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019
TAGS: KPKO PREL PHUM UNSC CG BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: GOB RESPONSE TO URGENT MONUC DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 18863
Classified By: A/DCM Richard Eason for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On March 2, PolOff and PolIntern delivered Reftel
points regarding the threat of Indian troop withdrawal from
MONUC. Contacts noted that they had received similar
information from the Belgian mission to the UN. In fact,
they had learned that the DPKO had communicated to multiple
UN missions, and that the Indians were displeased when they
learned of the effort. The GOB shared US concerns that an
Indian withdrawal would have drastic humanitarian and
security implications, but chose to wait to obtain more
information before approaching the Congolese. An MFA contact
notified us March 3 that the Belgian's had learned from New
York and Kinshasa that UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon had made an
unambiguous representation on this issue to President Kabila
over the weekend. They said President Kabila had agreed to
make a small gesture, either by making a statement or sending
his Foreign Minister to New Delhi, to convince the Indians
they are still welcome and that their effort in the DRC is
appreciated. After receiving this information, the GOB
decided that no urgent demarche was necessary.
2. (C) Our contacts noted that Belgium has been pleading for
a dialogue between the UN and MONUC-contributing nations on
the new mandate and expectations, but Belgium feels that no
good communication had been achieved. The MFA speculates
that MONUC's new rules of engagement may play a role in
India's threat to withdraw. They want to figure out whether
India's pullout is really related to President Kabila's
letter to the UN, or an underlying reluctance to expose
troops to combat under the new MONUC mandate.
BUSH
.
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AF/C CHRISTOPHER LAMORA AND IO/PSC HEATHER VON
BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019
TAGS: KPKO PREL PHUM UNSC CG BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: GOB RESPONSE TO URGENT MONUC DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 18863
Classified By: A/DCM Richard Eason for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) On March 2, PolOff and PolIntern delivered Reftel
points regarding the threat of Indian troop withdrawal from
MONUC. Contacts noted that they had received similar
information from the Belgian mission to the UN. In fact,
they had learned that the DPKO had communicated to multiple
UN missions, and that the Indians were displeased when they
learned of the effort. The GOB shared US concerns that an
Indian withdrawal would have drastic humanitarian and
security implications, but chose to wait to obtain more
information before approaching the Congolese. An MFA contact
notified us March 3 that the Belgian's had learned from New
York and Kinshasa that UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon had made an
unambiguous representation on this issue to President Kabila
over the weekend. They said President Kabila had agreed to
make a small gesture, either by making a statement or sending
his Foreign Minister to New Delhi, to convince the Indians
they are still welcome and that their effort in the DRC is
appreciated. After receiving this information, the GOB
decided that no urgent demarche was necessary.
2. (C) Our contacts noted that Belgium has been pleading for
a dialogue between the UN and MONUC-contributing nations on
the new mandate and expectations, but Belgium feels that no
good communication had been achieved. The MFA speculates
that MONUC's new rules of engagement may play a role in
India's threat to withdraw. They want to figure out whether
India's pullout is really related to President Kabila's
letter to the UN, or an underlying reluctance to expose
troops to combat under the new MONUC mandate.
BUSH
.