Willy Claes

Willy Claes
Willy Claes
	Claes in 2008
8th Secretary General of NATO
	In office; 17 October 1994 – 20 October 1995
Preceded by	Manfred Wörner; Sergio Balanzino (acting)
Succeeded by	Sergio Balanzino (acting); Javier Solana
President of the Party of European Socialists
	In office; November 1992 – October 1994
Preceded by	Guy Spitaels
Succeeded by	Rudolf Scharping
Minister of Foreign Affairs
	In office; 7 March 1992 – 10 October 1994
Prime Minister	Jean-Luc Dehaene
Preceded by	Mark Eyskens
Succeeded by	Frank Vandenbroucke
Personal details
Born	24 November 1938 (age 85); Hasselt, Belgium
Political party	Different Socialist Party
Spouse	Suzanne Meynen
Children	2
Alma mater	Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Willem Werner Hubert "Willy" Claes^[1] (Dutch: [ˈʋɪli ˈklaːs]; born 24 November 1938) is a Belgian politician who served as the eighth Secretary General of NATO, from 1994 to 1995. Claes was forced to resign from his NATO position after he was found guilty of corruption, which was uncovered during the investigation into André Cools' death. Claes was a member of the Flemish Socialist Party.

Claes was born in Hasselt, Belgium. He graduated in political and diplomatic sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

Political career

Claes began his political career in the Hasselt city council. In 1968, he was elected to the national parliament. In 1972, he entered the cabinet for the first time as minister of education. Between 1973 and 1992, he was minister of economic affairs of Belgium three separate times. He also served as deputy prime minister five times, and was an important negotiator in the formation of coalition governments during the 1980s.

Claes was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 until 1994 in the Government Jean-Luc Dehaene I, during which period he presided over Belgium's withdrawal from the UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during the Rwandan genocide. Belgium's withdrawal and the subsequent proposal by Claes of the withdrawal at the UN of all UN-Troops is thought^[2] to have dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, leading to thousands of deaths.^[3]

Claes was also Secretary General of NATO from 1994 until 1995, when he resigned after the discovery of a bribe of over 50 million Belgian francs (BEF), accepted at the time he was minister of economic affairs and connected to the defence contract negotiations with Agusta and Dassault. A criminal trial was handled by the Court of Cassation, which is responsible for cases involving minister in function. Claes received a 60 000 BEF fine, a three-year probationary sentence and a five-year prohibition on running for public office. An appeal at the European Court of Human Rights resulted in the confirmation of the Belgian sentence.

Musical career

Claes is known for being a pianist and has frequently performed concerts. Even as secretary-general of NATO, he had a piano in his residence to keep in practice. ^[4]

Honours

Minister of State
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II.^[5]

References

^ Decan, Rik, Wie is wie in Vlaanderen 2000–2002, Brussel: BRD, 1999.
^ Frederik Grünfeld, Anke Huijboom, The Failure to Prevent Genocide in Rwanda: The Role of Bystanders, p. 188
^ Sociologue et directrice émérite au CNRS, auteurs de nombreux articles sur le Rwanda, première personne auditionnée par les députés français de la mission d'information parlementaire sur le Rwanda - Citée comme témoin de contexte dans le cadre du procès de quatre Rwandais en Belgique en 2001, elle a déclaré qu'« Il n’y a pas de massacres spontanés de cette envergure. Il faut des dirigeants, il faut une organisation. » Assises Rwanda 2001. Témoin de contexte : Claudine Vidal, historienne, sociologue.
^ "Willy Claes, 1994 - 1995".
^ "De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers". dekamer.be.

External links

Media related to Willy Claes at Wikimedia Commons

Political offices
Preceded by Mark Eyskens	Minister of Foreign Affairs 1992–1994	Succeeded by Frank Vandenbroucke
Party political offices
Preceded by Guy Spitaels	President of the Party of European Socialists 1992–1994	Succeeded by Rudolf Scharping
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sergio Balanzino Acting	Secretary General of NATO 1994–1995	Succeeded by Sergio Balanzino Acting

[1] Decan, Rik, Wie is wie in Vlaanderen 2000–2002, Brussel: BRD, 1999.

[2] Frederik Grünfeld, Anke Huijboom, The Failure to Prevent Genocide in Rwanda: The Role of Bystanders, p. 188

[3] Sociologue et directrice émérite au CNRS, auteurs de nombreux articles sur le Rwanda, première personne auditionnée par les députés français de la mission d'information parlementaire sur le Rwanda - Citée comme témoin de contexte dans le cadre du procès de quatre Rwandais en Belgique en 2001, elle a déclaré qu'« Il n’y a pas de massacres spontanés de cette envergure. Il faut des dirigeants, il faut une organisation. » Assises Rwanda 2001. Témoin de contexte : Claudine Vidal, historienne, sociologue.

[4] "Willy Claes, 1994 - 1995".

[5] "De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers". dekamer.be.

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[5]

v t e Vooruit (Forward)
Leadership	Karel Van Miert Frank Vandenbroucke Louis Tobback Fred Erdman Patrick Janssens Steve Stevaert Johan Vande Lanotte Caroline Gennez Bruno Tobback John Crombez Conner Rousseau Melissa Depraetere
Former partyformation	Belgian Labour Party / Belgische Werklieden Partij (BWP) Belgian Socialist Party / Belgische Socialistische Partij (BSP)
Related organisations	Jongsocialisten Zij-kant S-Plus Curieus sp.a rood Vonk FOS-socialistische solidariteit
Symbols	Charter of Quaregnon The Internationale May Day Red Rose
Belgian socialist pillar	Socialist Party / Parti Socialiste (PS) Socialist Party Sozialistische Partei (SP) General Federation of Belgian Labour / Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond (ABVV) Socialistische Mutualiteiten Center for Homecare / (Centrum voor) Thuiszorg De Morgen Vermeylenfonds Rode Valken

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