VZCZCXRO4180
RR RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL
RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBS #3278 2720458
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 290458Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3200
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0242
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0213
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0004

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003278 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2016 
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PREL VE BE
SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA'S ARMS 
ACQUISITION PROGRAM TO BELGIUM 
 
REF: STATE 155336 
 
Classified By: PolCounselor Theodore H. Andrews; Reason: 1.4 (d). 
 
1.(C) On Sept. 27, Poloff delivered to Christiaan Van 
Driessche, head of Belgium Foreign Ministry's (MFA) Latin 
American section, the points in reftel concerning Venezuela's 
growing arms acquisition program.  Van Driessche responded 
that, while Belgium shared U.S. concerns and its federal 
government monitored arms transfers out of the country, it 
was "handcuffed" in dealing with the matter of arms 
transfers. The authority for issuing arms transfer licenses 
had devolved to the Belgium's regional Flemish, Walloon and 
Brussels governments a couple of years ago, after an 
unapproved sale of firearms to Nepal's military caused a 
public uproar.  The new system was intended to have closer 
oversight but, Van Driessche commented, was regrettable in 
allowing secret arms sales that the central government would 
otherwise not approve.  He voiced interest in learning 
whatever information the Embassy might get about Belgian 
firms making deals with Venezuela. 
 
¶2. (C) Poloff reported to Van Driessche that the Embassy had 
earlier in the week hosted a lunch with representatives of 
the three regional governments and the MFA arms control 
section to discuss U.S, concerns on arms transfer issues, 
including Venezuela.  Van Driessche suggested that it might 
be useful to be sure that the export-promotion offices of the 
three regions also be aware of U.S. concerns.  We agreed to 
do so as quickly as possible. 
 
¶3. (C) Turning to Belgium's broader concerns regarding 
Venezuela, Van Driessche said that it considered Chavez' 
Venezuela a "real menace," that could have a negative effect 
on Mercosur nations.  The threat was particularly worrisome 
with regard to the organization's successes - Chile, Brazil 
and Argentina. He hoped that the "good sense" of the 
Venezuelan people would prevail over Chavez' clearly 
extremist slogans, despite the man's remarkable charisma with 
the common people. 
 
¶4. (C) Comment:  It was clear from the questions put by Van 
Driessche and his colleague that they were eager to learn as 
much as possible about potentially-embarrassing arms 
transfers from Belgium.  While Belgium manufacturers only 
small arms, it is still a potential source of weapons. 
 
KOROLOGOS 
.