2007 (PDF, 2.81 MB) - Belgium

First delivery of LNG to Zeebrugge
Two long-term (20-year) contracts were signed with
Qatar in 2004 and 2005 regarding the supply of liquefied
natural gas (LNG). The first delivery was made
to Zeebrugge in April 2007.
Lebanon
Belgium continues to show its firm commitment to
Lebanon, renewing the mandate of its 400 troops
in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) until at least 2008. Belgium fully supports
the political process pursuant to UN Security Council
Resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1757.
Aid for reconstruction
The Paris III donor conference (January 2007) saw
Belgium undertaking to support the economic reconstruction
of Lebanon, pledging €10 million in aid
to back up this commitment. Part of this is intended
for the health sector in Southern Lebanon, where
the Belgian peacekeepers are deployed. The Belgian
troops, alongside their security and demining mission,
are keeping a cutting-edge field hospital open
for use by the local population.
Political support
Belgium’s engagement in Southern Lebanon was reflected
by the Belgian foreign ministry’s action in
the Security Council and direct interventions in the
region, as exemplified by Foreign Minister Karel De
Gucht’s trip to Lebanon and Syria in March 2007 and
the discussions he had.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
As regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Belgium gave
the Palestinian Fatah-Hamas government of national
unity the chance to build up experience. Consequently,
the indirect aid to the Palestinians via the Temporary
International Mechanism (TIM) was continued and
there were contacts with the Fatah ministers and independent
ministers in the government of national
unity. At the same time, Belgium continued making
firm demands of Hamas and driving home the values
that must be respected for recognition by the Belgian
authorities and money from Belgian taxpayers.
Belgium eighth largest European donor
Belgium gives aid to the Palestinians through the
TIM, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and
bilateral structural development projects. Belgium
supplied €15 million of aid to the Palestinians in
2007, making it the eighth largest European donor.
Belgium showed its commitment to stabilising the security
situation by sending five police officers with the
European missions EUPOLCOPPS (assisting in training
the Palestinian police) and EUBAM Rafah (assistance
with border controls between Egypt and Gaza).
Belgium also continued providing humanitarian aid
to the population after the Hamas violence in Gaza.
Furthermore, in the international organisations and
bilateral contacts it called for ‘passageways’ to be
opened up between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
One striking example of Belgium’s concrete commitment
to promoting the rule of law in Lebanon was
its support for Resolution 1757 authorising the creation
of a special international tribunal for Lebanon
to throw light on the assassination of Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri in 2005. Belgium also put forward a candidate
judge. Since then, Belgium has been considering
a financial contribution to the tribunal’s budget.
Central Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Belgium and its European and international partners
continued to support the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) in its efforts to achieve peace and
security after the end of the country’s ‘transition’
28