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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE AND IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019 
TAGS: PREL KBIO UNGA BE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR GUTMAN'S NOVEMBER 13 MEETING WITH UNGA 
PRESIDENT CANDIDATE LOUIS MICHEL 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 1498 (NOTAL) 
 
BRUSSELS 00001552  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Howard Gutman, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) The Ambassador met privately with Louis Michel, former 
Foreign Minister of Belgium and European Commissioner for 
Development, on November 13.  Michel was accompanied by the 
Chief of Staff to Foreign Minister Yves Leterme, Fransiskus 
Van Daele. 
 
¶2. (C) Michel and the Ambassador discussed the contentious 
issue of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde (BHV) (reftel) in Belgian 
politics.  Michel, a francophone politician who is a member 
of the European-style liberal Mouvement Reformateur (MR) 
party, told the Ambassador that his preferred solution to the 
problem is to make into a province, thereby solving the 
constitutional problem that its borders as an electoral 
district do not coincide with provincial boundaries.  Michel 
believes that it is inevitable that the Belgian federal 
government will have to cede more of its powers to the 
regions than it already has in the course of any compromise 
solution to Belgium's institutional problems.  He said he 
agreed only partially with the Ambassador's observation that 
a stronger economy in Wallonia, bringing its economic 
strength more in line with Flanders', might make finding a 
solution to the conflict between the two regions easier. 
Michel said that if Herman Van Rompuy becomes European 
Council President, and Yves Leterme becomes Prime Minister in 
his stead, it will exacerbate the difficulties in finding a 
compromise solution to the institutional issues in Belgium. 
 
¶3. (C) Michel took pains to present himself to the Ambassador 
as a friend to Israel.  He said that he had taken significant 
criticism for a statement he made while visiting sites of 
destruction in Gaza in January 2009.  Michel reportedly said 
that Hamas bore enormous responsibility for the destruction 
and was acting in the way of a terrorist organization.  At 
the same time he termed the Israeli bombardment of Gaza an 
abomination and its failure to protect civilians a breach of 
international law.  He called for both sides to be held 
accountable. 
 
¶4. (C) In 2008, Louis Michel and his son, Charles, who is the 
Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation, openly and 
strongly criticized then Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht for 
alienating President Kabila of the Democratic Republic of 
Congo, a former Belgian colony, by uncompromisingly speaking 
of corruption and misgovernment.  Michel has advocated that 
Belgium reassert its expertise in the region, stengthen 
dplomatic ties and increase development aid.  He is thought 
to harbor dreams of returning to the position of Foreign 
Minister of Belgium.  Some Belgian politicians have been 
heard to say it will be better to have him in New York at 
UNGA rather than Brussels. 
 
¶5. (C) Biographic information: Louis Michel has enjoyed 
successful careers in both politics and the private sector. 
From 1968 to 1978 he worked as a teacher of English, Dutch 
and German at the Provincial School of Jodoigne in Belgium. 
His political career began in 1967 when he served as Chairman 
of the Young Liberals in the Nivelles district of Belgium 
(1967-1977). In 1977 Michel became an Alderman in Jodoigne 
(1977-1983). In 1978 he became a member of the Belgian 
Federal Parliament, serving first as a Representative 
(1978-1999) and then as a Senator (1999-2004).   In 1980 he 
became the Secretary General of the Parti Reformateur Liberal 
(PRL) (1980-1982).  From 1982 to 1990 he served as Chairman 
of the PRL and again from 1995 to 1999. In 1999 Michel became 
the Belgian Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister of the 
Kingdom of Belgium.  He held these posts until July 2004 when 
the then Verhofstadt government appointed him as a candidate 
for the Belgian seat on the next (Barroso) European 
Commission starting in November 2004.  In September 2004, 
Michel stepped in to complete the term of then Commissioner 
Busquin, Commissioner for Science and Research.  In November 
2004 he assumed the responsibilities of European Commissioner 
for Humanitarian Aid and Development under the Barroso 
Commission.  His term ended in 2009, the same year he was 
elected to the European Parliament from Belgium.  Throughout 
his political career Michel has often held short-term and/or 
temporary seats or offices.  He has published numerous 
articles and has been awarded more than 10 high honors and 
recognition including the Minister of State conferred in 
¶1995.  This is an honorific title given to prominent Belgian 
politicians.  Louis Michel is married and has two children. 
He is fluent in French, Dutch, German and English. 
 
GUTMAN 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00001552  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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