Belgium OKs King’s ‘Monkey Business’

Belgium’s Foreign Ministry on Friday swung to the defense of King Baudouin, accused of “monkey business” in the import of rare chimpanzees and ivory given to him by Zaire’s President Mobutu Sese Seko.

The Dutch-language newspaper De Morgen charged Thursday that the monarch had smuggled the gifts into Belgium without a license on the royal jet which flew the royal couple back from a state visit to the former African colony last week.

But a Foreign Ministry statement said Friday: “International courtesy implies that gifts should be accepted. This was the case when the king visited Zaire. The gifts were loaded on to the plane just before departure.”

The necessary measures were being taken to obtain import licenses for the animals and the ivory, which is virtually banned in Belgium. “There was therefore no intention of not observing the law or convention,” the statement added.

The chimpanzees, which arrived in Brussels in poor health, are now in quarantine at Antwerp Zoo.