BELGIUM: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000115 SIPDIS STATE PASS EUR/WE, EUR/FO, EUR/PGI, EUR/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO KDEM OIIP HA BE SUBJECT: BELGIUM: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT ON HAITI REF: STATE 5277 ¶1. (U) One week after the earthquake in Haiti, Ambassador Gutman appeared as a guest on the Flemish evening talk show, Phara. During this interview, the Ambassador addressed concerns that America was "taking over" Haiti, as the presenter suggested. When the presenter inquired whether America had been asked by the Haitians for their support, the Ambassador replied that not only had Haiti asked America for support, but also that Belgian officials had contacted the Ambassador personally, requesting military assistance to secure a hospital set up by a Belgian B-FAST Team (Belgian First Aid and Support Team). ¶2. (U) The Phara presenter also asked whether security was a UN, rather than a U.S., responsibility. Ambassador Gutman explained that the UN is in charge of the security effort, but that American troops carry out that effort as part of a broader international partnership to help Haiti. The Ambassador also explained that the B-FAST hospital was relocated and secured at the UN compound thanks to the aid of the U.S. Southern Command. ¶3. (U) As reported in Embassy's emails to EUR/PPD since the earthquake occurred, overall press coverage in Belgium of U.S. efforts in Haiti has been and still remains positive. GUTMAN