Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS115
2010-01-29 09:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO1220 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHBS #0115 0290926 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 290926Z JAN 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9961 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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
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
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