Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

In reaction to what was reported by the international media regarding the Iranian court's announcement of the possibility of implementing a prisoner exchange agreement with Belgium, Belgian Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborn denied it. "This message is wrong," the minister said in remarks carried by the media in Brussels. "It comes from a rogue state that specializes in manipulation." The minister sees the announcement as a way for the Iranian government to put pressure on the family and Belgium. "I can only say that we will continue to do everything in our power to bring back the Belgian prisoner in Iran, Olivier Vandecastel," he said.

Lahabib: Don't give in to attempts to destabilize
Belgian Foreign Minister Hajjah Lahbib confirmed that Iran had officially requested the transfer of Assadullah Assadi. Last week, she added, "our country has officially asked Iran to transfer Vandicastel." The minister gave no further details, though she said Belgian authorities were still in contact with the Vandicastel family on Wednesday morning and that the government was doing everything it could to make sure the Belgian aid worker could Talking to his family, receiving consular visits, and better nutrition.
I also warned Habib. "We are dealing with a party that uses all means to achieve its goals, including blackmail and misinformation," she said. The news is the latest example of this. This disinformation helps us and manipulates public opinion. We must do our best not to succumb to these destabilization attempts."
According to Belgian media, earlier on Wednesday, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that a spokesperson for the Iranian court announced an exchange of prisoners between the two countries. According to the spokesman, the Iranian diplomat Assadollah al-Asadi, who was sentenced to 20 years in a Belgian prison for planning a terrorist attack, will be replaced "soon" by a Belgian prisoner.
It was implied that the deal included Olivier Vandecastel, an NGO worker who had been unjustly imprisoned by Iran for more than a year.
Last week, the Belgian government officially asked Iran to facilitate Vandecastel's return to Belgium.
Iranian spokesman Massoud Staishi said, "Belgium asked for an exchange, so we asked Assadollah Asadi. After the necessary protocols, such an exchange will be soon."

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