ACTING A/S WITTEN'S MEETING WITH BELGIAN MFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000727 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE AND PRM:A/S WITTEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019 TAGS: PREF PREL BE IZ SUBJECT: ACTING A/S WITTEN'S MEETING WITH BELGIAN MFA DIRECTOR FOR GLOBALIZATION MARC GEDOPT Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On May 19, PRM Acting A/S Samuel Witten met with Belgium's Director for Globalization in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marc Gedopt, to discuss issues surrounding Iraqi refugees, asylees and displaced persons, and to urge Belgian support for efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Refugees are starting to return, and many would be interested in doing so if conditions were correct, he said. Witten urged Belgium to respond positively to UNHCR's appeal for funds to support activities inside Iraq to facilitate returns. ¶2. (C) Gedopt said that Belgium recognizes that the only real solution to the refugee and IDP problem is for the Iraqis to return home, and Belgium wants to be supportive. In addition, Gedopt said, Belgium has decided to accept 1000 Iraqi refugees as part of the EU-wide decision to resettle 10,000 Iraqis. As a matter of Belgian policy, those living in the central and South regions of Iraq generally receive asylum in Belgium, based either on their personal situation or on the generally insecure environment in those regions. Iraqis from the North part of the country, mainly Kurds, are less likely to receive official status, but only a handful of all those who have come to Belgium have been deported. Gedopt expressed concern about what will happen in Iraq after the announced U.S. military pullout in 2011. Witten stressed that part of the measured, responsible withdrawal to which the United States is committed is addressing the problems of refugees and displaced persons. ¶3. (U) Acting A/S Witten has cleared this telegram. BUSH .