Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS141
2010-02-05 17:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIAN FM VANACKERE'S JAN 18-25 TRIP TO CENTRAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8612 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #0141/01 0361707 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051707Z FEB 10 ZDK CTG SVC RUEHSD #0018 0370339 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9980 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0060 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 0460 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0579 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000141
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND AF/C:WOLPE, KEITH, YELLIN, LAMORA, AND
CASEY
TREASURY FOR OIA AND TFI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV CG RW BY BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN FM VANACKERE'S JAN 18-25 TRIP TO CENTRAL
AFRICA
BRUSSELS 00000141 001.3 OF 002
Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Robert Kiene, reason
1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000141
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND AF/C:WOLPE, KEITH, YELLIN, LAMORA, AND
CASEY
TREASURY FOR OIA AND TFI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV CG RW BY BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN FM VANACKERE'S JAN 18-25 TRIP TO CENTRAL
AFRICA
BRUSSELS 00000141 001.3 OF 002
Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Robert Kiene, reason
1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA Congo Desk Officer Hugues Chantry
provided a readout February 1 of Belgian FM Vanackere's
January 18-25 trip to the Central African nations of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),Rwanda, and Burundi.
Vanackere met the presidents and foreign ministers of all
three countries. The GOB is particularly pleased the meeting
with DRC President Joseph Kabila went well. Vanackere said
he would focus on "quiet, normal relations," unlike his
predecessor Karl De Gucht, whose critical statements led to
troubled relations between Belgium and the DRC. Chantry said
the current coalition government wants to maintain calm
bilateral relations with all three Central African countries.
Belgium will focus on improving bilateral ties through the
DRC's June 30, 2010 celebration of its fifty years of
independence from Belgium and through Belgium's rotating EU
presidency (July 1 - December 31, 2010). In Burundi, FM
Vanackere privately stressed the importance of holding a
successful election in summer 2010. End Summary.
DRC
---
2. (C) Improving bilateral relations between Belgium and the
DRC is a major priority for the GoB. FM Vanackere's goal is
to adopt, "quiet, normal relations," rather than the strongly
critical "megaphone diplomacy" adopted by his predecessor
Karl De Gucht. Chantry said Belgian internal politics
requires a rapprochement after the rough De Gucht years for
purely "internal" historical and political reasons. Chantry
noted that Kabila extended a personal verbal invitation to
the Belgian King to attend the fifty-year celebration of
Congolese independence from Belgium on June 30, 2010. FM
Vanackere said the government was seriously considering the
invitation in his February 3 brief to Parliament. Chantry
predicts the GOB will agree to the request, which is very
important to Kabila. Chantry said the GoB was informed it
could reopen its consulate in Bukavu in the next few months.
(Note: the consulate was closed after former FM De Gucht's
strong criticism of Kabila in April 2008. End Note.)
3. (C) FM Vanackere also met with the president of the
electoral commission in Kinshasa. The GoB's analysis is that
the planning for the 2011 elections is disorganized. The
GoDRC is looking for funding internally. Chantry opined that
the DRC would realize it needed outside funding, but wait to
ask until it was too late. He suggested the international
community would need to plan for the contingency of coming to
the GoDRC's assistance by having emergency funding available
in 2011.
4. (C) The MFA is now considering the complications for
Belgium of managing its bilateral relations with the DRC and
EU relations as well during Belgium's July 1-December 31,
2010 rotating EU Council Presidency. The GOB has not decided
whether Belgium will take the lead in EU-DRC relations in
Kinshasa, or allow the EU delegation to represent the EU.
Chantry said allowing the EU delegation to take the lead
could allow Belgium to maintain its own bilateral relations
in a different vein, rather than delivering possibly harsher
EU views during a period when Belgium is trying to rebuild
the relationship.
5. (C) NOTE - MESSAGE FOR WASHINGTON: Chantry asked that the
following points be shared as a message to Washington. The
GOB views FM Vanackere's trip to the DRC as a success. FM
Vanackere now has personal ties with the GoDRC. Belgium once
again has diplomatic tools in the DRC at its disposal. He
also asked that AF/C and the State Great Lakes Team consider
the opportunity that the DRC's coming debt forgiveness
represents. The international community could work on the
GoDRC to move forward on structural reforms along with the
debt forgiveness. The GoB would like to avoid the same
situation as the 1970s debt forgiveness in which the GoDRC
simply spent the extra money. Chantry thinks the
international community must convince the DRC the money
cannot be spent well without governmental reform. END NOTE.
BRUSSELS 00000141 002.3 OF 002
Burundi
--------------
6. (C) FM Vanackere stressed the importance of holding a
successful election, and made clear that neither Burundi nor
the international community could accept a failed election.
He also urged the GoB to deal with gangs of youth that are
currently intimidating the opposition. Chantry said the
Burundian government continues to listen closely to the GOB
and can still be influenced by the international community.
Rwanda
--------------
7. (C) FM Vanackere had a two-hour meeting with Rwandan
President Paul Kagame. Chantry described it as a very open
exchange, in which all subjects were broached, including the
GoR's treatment of its opposition. Vanackere also met business organizations,
a
n a nh@Jp@RC relations, we
cannottners to deliver toughcan leaders; they wilQU, and other internati at leas
t until
after tpresidency ends in DecembQ until after the BelgiQs in summer 2011. Thein
g
to be critical i GoDRC officials.
GUTMQ
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND AF/C:WOLPE, KEITH, YELLIN, LAMORA, AND
CASEY
TREASURY FOR OIA AND TFI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV CG RW BY BE
SUBJECT: BELGIAN FM VANACKERE'S JAN 18-25 TRIP TO CENTRAL
AFRICA
BRUSSELS 00000141 001.3 OF 002
Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor Robert Kiene, reason
1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: MFA Congo Desk Officer Hugues Chantry
provided a readout February 1 of Belgian FM Vanackere's
January 18-25 trip to the Central African nations of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),Rwanda, and Burundi.
Vanackere met the presidents and foreign ministers of all
three countries. The GOB is particularly pleased the meeting
with DRC President Joseph Kabila went well. Vanackere said
he would focus on "quiet, normal relations," unlike his
predecessor Karl De Gucht, whose critical statements led to
troubled relations between Belgium and the DRC. Chantry said
the current coalition government wants to maintain calm
bilateral relations with all three Central African countries.
Belgium will focus on improving bilateral ties through the
DRC's June 30, 2010 celebration of its fifty years of
independence from Belgium and through Belgium's rotating EU
presidency (July 1 - December 31, 2010). In Burundi, FM
Vanackere privately stressed the importance of holding a
successful election in summer 2010. End Summary.
DRC
---
2. (C) Improving bilateral relations between Belgium and the
DRC is a major priority for the GoB. FM Vanackere's goal is
to adopt, "quiet, normal relations," rather than the strongly
critical "megaphone diplomacy" adopted by his predecessor
Karl De Gucht. Chantry said Belgian internal politics
requires a rapprochement after the rough De Gucht years for
purely "internal" historical and political reasons. Chantry
noted that Kabila extended a personal verbal invitation to
the Belgian King to attend the fifty-year celebration of
Congolese independence from Belgium on June 30, 2010. FM
Vanackere said the government was seriously considering the
invitation in his February 3 brief to Parliament. Chantry
predicts the GOB will agree to the request, which is very
important to Kabila. Chantry said the GoB was informed it
could reopen its consulate in Bukavu in the next few months.
(Note: the consulate was closed after former FM De Gucht's
strong criticism of Kabila in April 2008. End Note.)
3. (C) FM Vanackere also met with the president of the
electoral commission in Kinshasa. The GoB's analysis is that
the planning for the 2011 elections is disorganized. The
GoDRC is looking for funding internally. Chantry opined that
the DRC would realize it needed outside funding, but wait to
ask until it was too late. He suggested the international
community would need to plan for the contingency of coming to
the GoDRC's assistance by having emergency funding available
in 2011.
4. (C) The MFA is now considering the complications for
Belgium of managing its bilateral relations with the DRC and
EU relations as well during Belgium's July 1-December 31,
2010 rotating EU Council Presidency. The GOB has not decided
whether Belgium will take the lead in EU-DRC relations in
Kinshasa, or allow the EU delegation to represent the EU.
Chantry said allowing the EU delegation to take the lead
could allow Belgium to maintain its own bilateral relations
in a different vein, rather than delivering possibly harsher
EU views during a period when Belgium is trying to rebuild
the relationship.
5. (C) NOTE - MESSAGE FOR WASHINGTON: Chantry asked that the
following points be shared as a message to Washington. The
GOB views FM Vanackere's trip to the DRC as a success. FM
Vanackere now has personal ties with the GoDRC. Belgium once
again has diplomatic tools in the DRC at its disposal. He
also asked that AF/C and the State Great Lakes Team consider
the opportunity that the DRC's coming debt forgiveness
represents. The international community could work on the
GoDRC to move forward on structural reforms along with the
debt forgiveness. The GoB would like to avoid the same
situation as the 1970s debt forgiveness in which the GoDRC
simply spent the extra money. Chantry thinks the
international community must convince the DRC the money
cannot be spent well without governmental reform. END NOTE.
BRUSSELS 00000141 002.3 OF 002
Burundi
--------------
6. (C) FM Vanackere stressed the importance of holding a
successful election, and made clear that neither Burundi nor
the international community could accept a failed election.
He also urged the GoB to deal with gangs of youth that are
currently intimidating the opposition. Chantry said the
Burundian government continues to listen closely to the GOB
and can still be influenced by the international community.
Rwanda
--------------
7. (C) FM Vanackere had a two-hour meeting with Rwandan
President Paul Kagame. Chantry described it as a very open
exchange, in which all subjects were broached, including the
GoR's treatment of its opposition. Vanackere also met business organizations,
a
n a nh@Jp@RC relations, we
cannottners to deliver toughcan leaders; they wilQU, and other internati at leas
t until
after tpresidency ends in DecembQ until after the BelgiQs in summer 2011. Thein
g
to be critical i GoDRC officials.
GUTMQ