Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRUSSELS204
2010-02-22 17:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
BELGIUM:AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S DISCUSSION WITH GOB ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0082 OO RUEHSL DE RUEHBS #0204 0531755 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221755Z FEB 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0044 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDHN/DIA DH WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000204
SIPDIS
STATE PASS EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA, AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM:AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S DISCUSSION WITH GOB ON
AFGHANISTAN AFTER DUTCH GOVT FALLS
Classified By: Ambassador Gutman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Ambassador's Discussion with MFA, PM's Office and MOD
--------------------------------------------- ---------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000204
SIPDIS
STATE PASS EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA, AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM:AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S DISCUSSION WITH GOB ON
AFGHANISTAN AFTER DUTCH GOVT FALLS
Classified By: Ambassador Gutman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Ambassador's Discussion with MFA, PM's Office and MOD
-------------- --------------
1. (C) Ambassador Gutman met February 22 with the Diplomatic
Advisors at the MFA Dirk Wouters and PM's Office Vincent
Houssiau; he then had a phone call with DefMin Pieter De
Crem. The conversation followed the usual pattern of
Minister De Crem being more optimistic than the MFA or the
PM,s office. Ambassador Gutman felt all three were somewhat
encouraging. DefMin De Crem said he is working on a package
with 55 additional men, divided into 30 military trainers and
25 civilian trainers. He was aware of General Jones,s
impending call to FM Vanackere. De Crem told the Ambassador
he would be speaking to FM Vanackere and would call him back
shortly. Both Wouters and Houssiau separately noted that the
fall of the Dutch government makes things much more difficult
for Belgium. They each expressed concern and some
uncertainty. But each in slightly different words explained
that they felt Belgium would meet the call for 22 trainers.
They each said that they would try to get an increase in
manpower to do so, but at a minimum, would reshape their
force deployment to be more useful to the training needs and
would come up with the requisite trainers.
Ambassador's Discussion with Opposition Leader
-------------- -
2. (C) The Ambassador spent February 21 with Flemish
Socialist VP (sp.a) and MP Dirk Van der Maelen, who is the
leading opponent of the GOB on Afghanistan in the Belgian
Parliament. He is also the leading citizen of the community
of Geraadsbergen and a friend of the Ambassador. The
Ambassador attended and helped lead Geraadsbergen,s annual
festival (including throwing stale rolls, participating in
the opening square dance and lighting the bonfire at night).
Van der Maelen said he had informed the Flemish Socialist
press (who oppose our efforts in Afghanistan) when asked that
he thought our efforts to secure more aid had succeeded at
least in getting the Belgian government to commit to
Afghanistan through 2011. Van der Maelen predicted that
there probably would not be the same type of divisiveness as
existed in The Netherlands on extending Belgium's mission.
GUTMAN
.
SIPDIS
STATE PASS EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, EUR/ERA, AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM:AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S DISCUSSION WITH GOB ON
AFGHANISTAN AFTER DUTCH GOVT FALLS
Classified By: Ambassador Gutman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
Ambassador's Discussion with MFA, PM's Office and MOD
-------------- --------------
1. (C) Ambassador Gutman met February 22 with the Diplomatic
Advisors at the MFA Dirk Wouters and PM's Office Vincent
Houssiau; he then had a phone call with DefMin Pieter De
Crem. The conversation followed the usual pattern of
Minister De Crem being more optimistic than the MFA or the
PM,s office. Ambassador Gutman felt all three were somewhat
encouraging. DefMin De Crem said he is working on a package
with 55 additional men, divided into 30 military trainers and
25 civilian trainers. He was aware of General Jones,s
impending call to FM Vanackere. De Crem told the Ambassador
he would be speaking to FM Vanackere and would call him back
shortly. Both Wouters and Houssiau separately noted that the
fall of the Dutch government makes things much more difficult
for Belgium. They each expressed concern and some
uncertainty. But each in slightly different words explained
that they felt Belgium would meet the call for 22 trainers.
They each said that they would try to get an increase in
manpower to do so, but at a minimum, would reshape their
force deployment to be more useful to the training needs and
would come up with the requisite trainers.
Ambassador's Discussion with Opposition Leader
-------------- -
2. (C) The Ambassador spent February 21 with Flemish
Socialist VP (sp.a) and MP Dirk Van der Maelen, who is the
leading opponent of the GOB on Afghanistan in the Belgian
Parliament. He is also the leading citizen of the community
of Geraadsbergen and a friend of the Ambassador. The
Ambassador attended and helped lead Geraadsbergen,s annual
festival (including throwing stale rolls, participating in
the opening square dance and lighting the bonfire at night).
Van der Maelen said he had informed the Flemish Socialist
press (who oppose our efforts in Afghanistan) when asked that
he thought our efforts to secure more aid had succeeded at
least in getting the Belgian government to commit to
Afghanistan through 2011. Van der Maelen predicted that
there probably would not be the same type of divisiveness as
existed in The Netherlands on extending Belgium's mission.
GUTMAN
.