VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBS #1188/01 2391357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271357Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9400
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA IMMEDIATE 0035
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI IMMEDIATE 0430
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA IMMEDIATE 0549

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 001188 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AF/FO FOR WOLPE, KEITH AND LASRY, AF/C FOR 
LAMORA, AND EUR/WE FOR MARCUS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID MOPS MARR SOCI CG BE
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR S/E HOWARD WOLPE'S MEETING WITH 
BELGIAN MFA AND COOPERATION 
 
Summary: 
--------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Your visit will develop further the already close 
U.S. - Belgium strategic dialogue that has developed over the 
past year.  MFA contacts will be excited to discuss the new 
Administration's developing perspective and policies on 
Africa, especially the Great Lakes region.  Secretary Clinton 
met with former FM De Gucht in January and March; Acting A/S 
Carter met with the Belgians mander 
Yates met civicials, parliamentarians,tring her March visit, Secpsed a Belgian 
Mission tecurity 
sector reform for which has not yettly, the U.S. and  Belgium level SS @ h`riorities in 
Africa.  cooperation official3ltation meeting on assver a year.  African coury 
beneficiaries of BelQnce, and the DRC 
a focign policy.  Suggestedided at paragraph 8.  Qitical Background 
--- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Africa, an$Qtic Republic of 
the Cone a priority for the Brift in Belgium's relafollowed former FM De Gucht's public criticism of DRC 
President Kabi,a in 2008 has been partly repaired. A new, 
highly regarded Ambassador (former Belgian Ambasador to the 
U.S. Dominique Struye) is now in lace in Kinshasa. Belgium's 
new Consul-GeneraQ arrived in Lubumbashi on August 17, and 
the reopening ceremony should take place in September  The 
Consulate in Bukavu remains shuttereQ, although the GoDRC has 
indicated it can reo0en once certain Kimia II (joint DRC - 
Rwanda) ilitary exercise objectives have been met.  BelQium 
remains very cautious about leadership roQes in African 
peacekeeping missions, a result of the death of its soldiers 
in Rwanda in 1994.  De Gucht failed in a concerted effort 
late last year to persuade fellow EU nations to provide a 
"bridging force" to support MONUC in Eastern Congo.  Ethnic 
European - Belgians have personal and family ties to the DRC, 
while current economic and commercial relations have 
dwindled.  At least one-hundred thousand Belgian citizens are 
of African-Congolese decent, many recent immigrants.  Belgian 
political interest in the DRC today centers to a significant 
degree on conflict resolution, human rights and humanitarian 
concerns. 
 
Democratic Republic of the Congo 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Belgium remains focused on the humanitarian 
situation in the eastern DRC. Belgian officials are skeptical 
about recent and ongoing military cooperation between the 
DRC, Uganda and Rwanda against rebel groups. They would like 
to see comprehensive rapprochement between Kinshasa and 
Kigali, but are skeptical of the wisdom of the DRC inviting 
troops from other countries on to its territory in light of 
the potential for violence.  Nevertheless, the Belgians are 
realistic about the limited impact of their efforts to 
improve the ability of the DRC military to provide security 
throughout the country.  Former FM De Gucht told the 
Secretary March 6 that in his view strengthening the DRC 
military is fundamental to long term stability, and agreed to 
send a team to Washington to consult with U.S. counterparts 
on possible efforts to strengthen the DRC military.  The 
Belgians have indicated a desire to send this team once the 
Administration's new Africa policy has been developed. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Belgium is actively engaged in Security Sector 
Reform (SSR) in the DRC, and coordinates with the U.S. and 
other donors in the region on this topic.  The MFA will 
co-host with State a May 12 meeting in Brussels for European 
and American SSR experts.  The Belgian military provides a 
handful of advisors to the DRC Ministry of Defense, as well 
as a team leader and eight observers to MONUC.  Belgium is 
disappointed with the limited impact of its effort to train a 
battalion of Rapid Reaction Forces at Kananga, but the 
Ministry of Defense plans regular follow up training. 
 
 
Sudan and Benin 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Belgium is also active in non-Great Lakes countries 
that border the Congo, and further afield in Francophone 
Africa.  Five unarmed Belgian military observers have 
participated in the UN Mission in Sudan since its 
establishment in 2005.  From January to April 2009, Belgium 
has deployed 75 troops in Benin who are constructing a 
shooting range and training facilities for peacekeepers.  The 
Belgians have planned for regular follow up training.  Two 
Belgian liaison officers support Benin's troops engaged in 
peacekeeping in Cote d'Ivoire with ONUCI. 
 
Coordination with AFRICOM 
------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Cooperation between the Belgian MOD and the U.S. 
Africa Command is growing.  Top Belgian Army officers have 
met with AFRICOM leadership on three occasions since March, 
including a visit by Deputy AFRICOM commander Yates to 
Brussels, a visit to AFRICOM headquarters by a Belgian 
military delegation to share lessons learned in west Africa, 
and a July 20 visit by AFRICOM staff to Brussels.  AFRICOM 
officers have said they find the Belgians knowledgeable on 
Africa issues, with a high level of engagement at the senior 
ranks.  As AFRICOM gears up to train a Congolese battalion, 
the Belgians have shared their insights into the 
opportunities and challenges inherent in training forces in 
the DRC.  Belgium has expressed willingness to participate in 
the Africa Partnership Station (APS), first by providing 
Belgian trainers to accompany the mission, and later possibly 
by providing a ship to carry U.S. and other allied personnel 
on APS missions.  The Belgians have also offered to provide a 
liaison officer for the U.S. Operation Shared Accord in 
Benin. The Belgian Defense Ministry is interested in 
providing a full-time liaison officer to AFRICOM's Stuttgart 
headquarters when AFRICOM is in a position to accept such 
officers. 
 
Civilian Development Assistance 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) In 2007, Belgium world development assistance 
totaled 1.4 billion euros, or 0.43% of its GDP.  This figure 
was down from 0.5% in 2006.  In 2007, the DRC was the largest 
recipient of Belgian aid at 153 million euros.  Other large 
recipients were Cameroon, Rwanda and Burundi.  Direct 
development aid administered by Belgian employees of Belgian 
Technical Assistance is limited to 18 "partner countries," of 
which 13 are in Africa.  Other countries receive Belgian 
money via the UN or other international organizations and 
NGOs.  The Embassy has worked to increase cooperation and 
coordination with Belgium on assistance to Africa.  We are 
also focused on trying to get Belgium to increase assistance 
to Afghanistan, a key U.S. priority. 
 
 
Suggested Talking Points: 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Key points to make in your meeting with Belgian 
officials: 
 
-- We will soon be ready to receive a Belgian delegation to 
discuss ways to strengthen security in the DRC, following up 
on the conversation between the Secretary and former FM De 
Gucht. 
 
-- We greatly appreciate Belgium's openness to AFRICOM and 
willingness to share experiences and lessons learned.  We 
look forward to partnership with Belgium on Africa 
Partnership Station and other exercises. 
 
-- We are eager to work with you to improve cooperation and 
coordination on delivery of aid to African countries.  We 
also greatly appreciate the new resources you are providing 
for assistance to Afghanistan. In this difficult economic 
environment, it is more important than ever to ensure that 
resources remain available for the least advantaged 
countries. 
 
GUTMAN 
.