Brussels, 06/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Herman Van Rompuy has not escaped the WikiLeaks scandal. American diplomatic dispatches divulged over the weekend reveal the content of an interview between the American ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, and the President of the European Council on 23 December 2009 - just a few weeks after his appointment - on important issues such as the war in Afghanistan and climate change.
On Afghanistan, it is reported that Van Rompuy said that “no one believes in Afghanistan any more”. If European troops are remaining in Afghanistan for the time being, this is “out of deference to the Americans, but not out of deference to Afghanistan. But we will give it until 2010 to see results. If it doesn't work, that will be it because it is the last chance,” he said, according to the note sent by Mr Gutman on 4 January 2010. The former Belgian Prime Minister then reportedly: “and if a Belgian gets killed, it would be over for Belgium right then”.
Climate change. Mr Van Rompuy is also alleged to have shown scepticism over the success of the COP16 meeting in Cancún. The Copenhagen conference (in December 2009) was an “incredible disaster in which Europe was totally excluded and mistreated and Mexico COP 16 will be a disaster as well,” the permanent President of the European Council allegedly said. It is even reported that he said that he was happy not to have representing the EU in Copenhagen (Ed.: he did not take up his duties until 1 January 2010). “Had I been there, my Presidency would have been over before it began”. According to Gutman's note, he added: “multilateral conferences would not resolve the climate problem”. According to Van Rompuy, the EU and the United States should first of all work towards a binding agreement between themselves (he reportedly suggested that they begin work on this at the EU/United States summit scheduled to be held in Madrid in spring 2010, but which ended up being postponed by request of Barack Obama) before making proposals to the Chinese to reach an “achievable solution”. (H.B./transl.fl)