Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS693
2009-05-15 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY MAIN OBSTACLE TO BELGIAN

Tags:  PTER PREL PGOV BE AF 
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VZCZCXRO5599
PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW
DE RUEHBS #0693/01 1351452
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151452Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8964
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000693 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA, S/CT AND S/WCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV BE AF
SUBJECT: CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY MAIN OBSTACLE TO BELGIAN
RESETTLEMENT OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

REF: A. BRUSSELS 648

B. BRUSSELS 268

C. BRUSSELS 679

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Wayne Bush, reason 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000693

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA, S/CT AND S/WCI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV BE AF
SUBJECT: CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY MAIN OBSTACLE TO BELGIAN
RESETTLEMENT OF GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

REF: A. BRUSSELS 648

B. BRUSSELS 268

C. BRUSSELS 679

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Wayne Bush, reason 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism, Thomas Baekelandt, told
Charge on May 13 that Belgium's main concern about taking
detainees from Guantanamo is the risk to Belgian and European
security. He also said he would want to know why the U.S.
could not accept any particular detainee. Charge replied
that Belgium will make its own decisions on individuals, and
should not dwell on abstract, hypothetical questions about
whether individuals could be admitted to the United States.
The U.S. would undoubtedly have to continue to contend with
the most difficult cases, and the USG would share complete
information on detainees Belgium is asked to take.
Baekelandt said that the GOB will consult with its European
partners in evaluating specific detainees, and would share
information with Schengen partners on any detainees accepted.
He said the Belgians will want to have a good understanding
with the United States about sharing information the USG
provides. Charge wondered whether Belgium might consider the
17 Uygur detainees as good, low risk candidates for
resettlement in Belgium. Baekelandt said that he sees no
reason not to consider taking the Uygurs, and offered to
float the idea informally with others in the government. End
Summary.


2. (C) Charge explained to Baekelandt our concerns about the
impact of the Administrator General of State Security of
Belgium, Alan Winants', extremely cautious statements about
resettling of detainees (ref C). He said that such public
statements, before the facts about any particular case are
known, make it more difficult to achieve what Belgium has
urged many times, that is, closure of Guantanamo. However,
he said, the USG had heard Winants' concerns that North
African or Middle Eastern detainees could be a rallying point
for domestic Islamist radicals. He wondered how the GOB
would view a request to resettle a number of the Uygur

detainees, since they are not considered to pose a threat to
Belgium or European countries.


3. (C) Baekelandt was well-informed about the status of the
Uygur detainees. He said that they had been subject to an
order of habeas corpus but that the USG has won an appeal
that overturned an order that they be released into the
United States. The USG will have to explain why, if the
United States cannot give them a visa, presumably on security
grounds, they should be settled in Belgium. He reiterated
Winants' concerns about the possibility that resettled
detainees, especially from the Middle East, would increase
Belgium's problems with radicalized individuals. Only a few
such individuals are sufficient to cause major problems, he
said. Baekelandt was also aware of the Chinese government's
likely strong reaction to any country's acceptance of the
Uygurs for resettlement.


4. (C) Baekelandt suggested that the issue of U.S.
non-acceptance of the Uygurs was an obstacle to resettlement
in Belgium. Charge noted that the same question could be
asked of any of the detainees held at Guantanamo. The USG in
all likelihood would have to continue to deal judiciously
with the most difficult cases, including those individuals
who pose a continued security threat. We have called on
allies to help solve a difficult problem, he said, and
Belgium's leaders have said they want to assist. An
inordinate focus on why the United States could not take any
particular detainee brings into question whether the GOB will
be able to discuss resettlement of any of them in good faith.
The important issue, the Charge insisted, is what the impact
would be in Belgium. The USG is prepared to share the
results of its review of the detainees, now ongoing, and to
give the Belgian government every opportunity to evaluate the
risks and find ways to mitigate them. In that regard, there
may be many good choices for Belgium among the detainees and
it may be a good idea to speak up early to take the best
candidates for Belgium before they go elsewhere. Accepting
some detainees early would be a powerful symbol of Belgium's
willingness to assist, he concluded.


5. (C) Following this exchange, Baekelandt began to focus
more closely on the security issues. He said that among the
criteria Belgium would use to make a decision is whether the
detainee wants to go to Belgium, what is in the USG's files
on the person, and Belgian State Security's own evaluation of
the detainee's history. There may be some detainees with
some connections to Belgium, such as Ahmad Muhammad
Al-Masa'udi, aka Hisham Sliti, but he said these might also

BRUSSELS 00000693 002 OF 002


be among the higher-risk detainees. He is also concerned
that the Guantanamo experience may have radicalized some
detainees who otherwise might have been low risk. He sees a
necessity for monitoring by State Security of detainees
resettled in Belgium.


6. (C) Noting the USG-EU consultations on the detainee issue,
Baekelandt said that the GOB will be seeking information
about detainees under active consideration from other EU
countries, especially those in the Schengen area, before it
commits to resettlement. Belgium will want to share
information with its EU partners and would like to have a
clear understanding with the United States on that. He said
that he understands such discussions are under way.
Baekelandt did insist, however, that the decision to resettle
detainees is a national one that Belgium will make for
itself. After Belgium takes a detainee, he said, it will
inform Schengen partners about limitations on his free
movement in Belgium or in the Schengen area, if any. Belgium
is also looking at ways to confer a legal status on resettled
detainees that avoids leaving them in a legal limbo. Belgium
wants to complete that process by early July, when Baekelandt
said he understands the USG review will be finished and the
USG will want to begin serious discussions about particular
detainees.


7. (C) Summing up, Baekelandt said that while political
considerations will be important, security issues will be
paramount in the detainee cases. He said he sees no reason
not to consider taking in the Uygurs, but still would like to
know why the United States is not willing to resettle them in
the U.S. The GOB's idea, he said, is that Belgium would
accept those persons for whom the USG is "really in a fix"
for resettlement. Charge reacted, saying that that is not
exactly the kind of limited help the USG is seeking.
Baekelandt's reaction: "OK, just not too many." He said he
was looking forward to Ambassador Fried's visit to Brussels
on May 18 and would help to organize a useful meeting for him.

BUSH
.