Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SECTIO01OF03BRUSSELS1363
2009-10-09 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR OCTOBER SEMINAR ON UN TARGETED

Tags:  PTER KTFN ETTC PGOV EFIN PREL PINR KJUS PHUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6921
OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO
DE RUEHBS #1363/01 2821508
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091508Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9547
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAAMO/HQ ICE AMO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0304
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITYRUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON D PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTIO 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001363 

SIPDIS
NOFORN

STATE PASS EUR/WE AND EUR/PGI
TREASURY FOR TFFC, OFAC, AND OIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PTER KTFN ETTC PGOV EFIN PREL PINR KJUS PHUM
UNSC, EUN, KNNP, BE
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR OCTOBER SEMINAR ON UN TARGETED
SANCTIONS IN BRUSSELS

REF: BRUSSELS 697

Classified By: Acting Charge Richard M. Eason for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTIO 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001363

SIPDIS
NOFORN

STATE PASS EUR/WE AND EUR/PGI
TREASURY FOR TFFC, OFAC, AND OIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: PTER KTFN ETTC PGOV EFIN PREL PINR KJUS PHUM
UNSC, EUN, KNNP, BE
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR OCTOBER SEMINAR ON UN TARGETED
SANCTIONS IN BRUSSELS

REF: BRUSSELS 697

Classified By: Acting Charge Richard M. Eason for reasons 1.4 (B) and (
D).


1. (C//NF) Summary: In preparation for the Belgian-hosted UN
Targeted Sanctions Seminar of Like-Minded Countries, post
provides the following information on Belgian attitudes
toward reform of 1267 sanctions and other counterterrorism
(CT) issues. This is in part based on Treasury Assistant
Secretary for Terrorist Financing David Cohen's discussion of
CT issues on June 24 with Belgian MFA Counterterrorism
Coordinator Thomas Baekelandt. As a member of the Group of
Like-Minded countries, Belgium is engaged in discussions to
find a way to modify the UNSCR 1267 counterterrorist
sanctions procedures that would address European court
concerns with targeted persons' fundamental rights while not
unnecessarily interfering with the UN designation process.
As stated by A/S Cohen, amendments to the 1267 committee
procedures, including those found in UNSCR 1822, should
already have addressed many of the Like-Minded Countries'
concerns. Baekelandt said he did not expect Belgium would
approach its upcoming EU presidency during the second half of
2010 with a pre-set list of counterterrorism initiatives, but
would respond to the challenges as they arise. End Summary.

UN CounterTerrorism Sanctions Reform: Like-Minded Group
-------------- --------------


2. (C//NF) On October 15-16, a delegation of Treaury and
State Department officials will attend a Belgian-hosted
seminar on how to improve UN targeted sanctions on terrorist
individuals and organizations and their supporters. the
meeting will be chaired by Thomas Baekelandt, Belgian MFA
Counterterrorism coordinator. As the MFA's CT Coordinator,
Baekelandt spends half of his time working with his UN
department colleagues on 1267 issues as well as the EU's
separate autonomous terrorist sanctions designation process.
He also addresses human rights issues that arise in the fight
against terrorism, and has been involved in resettlement of
Guantanamo detainees. He meets regularly with
embassies that are engaged on CT issues, especially those of
the U.S., Sri Lanka, and Turkey. Baekelandt spends the other
half of his time liaising with CT experts in Belgium from
other agencies and ministries. Belgium has no CIA
equivalent, its only foreign intelligence units are in the
military and are deployed in Afghanistan for force
protection. They have an intelligence agency, the Surete,
that works on internal security. Baekelandt serves as a
window to the external world for his police and prosecutor
colleagues concerned with local terrorism. He works with
other colleagues on weapons proliferation, chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, and crisis
response. He advises Belgium's Financial Intelligence Unit
on Iranian terrorist financing.


3. (C//NF) The GOB is an active member of the group of

including the European CourQ of Justice (ECJ). These courts
have criticized the 1267 process and other UNSC and EU
liting procedures on due process grounds. He sai the
Swiss/Liechtenstein plan to add a right of appeal is not
viable, as it fails to address the P5's concerns. It "might
be right in legal terms, but not politically," he has said.
"If you know the P5, this will never fly." Baekelandt said
the Germans and the Dutch had similar "realistic" positions
to the Belgians. Like the Belgians, they believe some kind