BELGIUM SUPPORTS U.S. ON IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000160

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA 3)

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2020
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNHRC IR BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM SUPPORTS U.S. ON IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT
SPEAKS PUBLICLY THROUGH EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE

REF: A. STATE 7242

B. STATE 12108

C. STEPHEN MULL E-MAIL 2/6/2010

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Eason,
reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On February 9, Embassy Acting PolEconCouns discussed
the human rights situation in Iran with Pierre Gillon, Iran
desk officer in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PolEconCouns noted the issuance on February 8 of the joint
US-EU statement and asked whether the Belgian Foreign
Ministry would be issuing its own complementary and
supportive statement. Gillon said that this was not
expected, because Belgian representatives had participated in
the formulation and approved the issuance of the High
Representative's statement. He said that under the new
procedures of the Lisbon Treaty and its general spirit, it
would be increasingly rare for Belgium to issue its own
statements that echo the High Representative's public
pronouncements.


2. (C) Nevertheless, Gillon said the GOB fully condemns the
human rights violations ongoing in Iran. Moreover, on
January 22, the MFA had summoned the Iranian Ambassador to
Belgium and had delivered a wide-ranging demarche that had
been coordinated EU-wide, expressing concern about the
impending executions of two political prisoners, repression
of Bahai believers and political dissidents and the Ashura
events in late December. Within the EU, Gillon said, the
topic of Iran is a standing issue and a special priority of
the "Specialized Group on Human Rights", in which Belgium
participates.


3. (C) Gillon said that Belgium intends to take the floor at
the UNHRC Iran Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and
express deep concern about human rights in Iran. The
European Union member states have divided up the topics to
discuss and Belgium will speak to use of the death penalty
and to discrimination against women. Belgium has also
submitted an extensive list of written questions to Iran,
Gillon said. He added that Belgium will not support Iran's
candidacy for the Human Rights Council, at all. It will
lobby hard, bilaterally with other countries, to prevent Iran
from gaining a seat, Gillon said. Belgium supports the visit
of a delegation fromt the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights and inviting the Special Rapporteur on Torture
to visit Iran.


4. (C) Gillon said that after Iran's national day, Belgium
and the EU will evaluate the situation. If violence occurs,
they will certainly react appropriately, he said.

GUTMAN