Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS727
2009-05-26 16:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

ACTING A/S WITTEN'S MEETING WITH BELGIAN MFA

Tags:  PREF PREL BE IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3043
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHBS #0727 1461615
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 261615Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8989
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
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).

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
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