What Belgium would have done?
What would have happened if a group of somalies pirates kidnapped a belgium ship? Would Belgim have extradited the two pirates?…
…Would opposition parties and many journalists have criticed Goverment´s actions and decissions? How people in the street would react?
The strategy of the Spanish opposition party is always criticize the Goverment to obtein a benefit of that. It doesn´t matter when or how. It also happened in the “eleven March”, with the Prestige ship and with many ETA terrorism acts… The problem is that the critics from the opposition party always become weaker the goverment regarding the fight against the kidnapping or other problems. As Spanish, I am not surprised about this reaction. I know it sounds sad, but it´s true! We are used to atack eachother and lay the blame on the others, instead of joining together in order to find solutions. In my opinion, people in glass houses shouldn´t throw stones.
In constrast, the Belgium way is rather different. The goverment is much more diplomatic and discreet, as long as ther are used to find compromisments and agreements between 3 different speaking comunities: Flanders, Valonia and the german speaking part. So that´s why they are bridge-builders and diplomacy is their strong point.
Belgium goverment is also very cautious. So, under my point of view, Belgium would have waited till what other bigger countries, as Germany or France, do or suggest before making decisions. And then, it would send an ambassador or a member of the intelligent services to deal with the pirates. Of course they would gave them money for the release, but the Belgians would never know that. It would be a secret.
And of couse Belgians wouldn´t made any special public debate, manifestation or controversy. Eveything would be solved easily and anybody would care. In fact Belgium comunity is not easily surprised, and they need a shock to react. Discussing about politicians or wars is not the belgium way.
But I have to say that in really extreme situations or in order to obtein a common good, the three regions, in witch the country is divided, join together and forget their differences. For example, now both comunities work as one to support their present Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy to become president and foreign policy chief of the European Union.
Spain has still to learn a lot about diplomacy; but also about solidarity and help in bad moments. Maybe is time to look up and see how is the way other european countries (like Belgium) take to solve their problems…
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Yes, it seems that Belgium has to take Europe into account more than Spain as it is considered to be a center of Union at this moment. I don’t know if the size of countries matters… what do you think?
Yes, there is nothing to talk about size; eveything is related to the culture o the country, and of course the nearness to the EU influences a lot on it. Whereas Belgium is synonim of diplomacy, bridge-builder, european proudness and not easily surprised people; Spain is almost the oposite.
Also Spanish are used to critice our country, as I am doing now. And Belgians don t usually discuss about this topics. The weather is an easier topic.
An interesting article, you were straight and you defended your point of view. Some of the topics are quite controversial thou, they will surely bring up a lot of discussion; as it has happened with me. I will write my opinion about the main points of the text, always respecting your ideas.
First of all let’s talk about your statement that the Spanish opposition is always trying to criticize the government in a non constructive way. True, many chances of effective government have been lost because of this. But what I doubt is that opposition in Belgium doesn’t make this kind of mistakes, yes they are good diplomats, but lets remember that not so long ago alarms of the country dividing in two pieces rang mightily.
Their problem is rooted in their very identity, or lack of identity, of their nation. Spain suffers this situation also, but with a number of small national identities confronting the Spanish one. But let’s not lose the point, what I tried to say before is that politics are politics after all, no matter where they live.
Another complicated part of the article is where you write that Belgium would have send a negotiator to deal with the pirates, and no media debate would have arise. I agree with you that the Spanish government lacks political sensibility when having to play their act out of the spotlight. But I think that Belgians are easier to shock and move into debate than what you think.
Spain has a lot to learn from many countries, including Belgium, but, as the Spanish saying goes, comparisons are always hateful…
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