S E C R E T PARIS 003123


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2014
TAGS: PTER PINS IZ TU EU SY JO FR
SUBJECT: PREVENTING TRAVEL TO POSSIBLE KONGRA-GEL
CONFERENCE: FRENCH RESPONSE

REF: STATE 89155

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR PAUL MAILHOT, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D

(S) ON APRIL 22, WE DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE ON PREVENTING A
PARTY CONGRESS IN IRAQ BY KONGRA-GEL TO JULIEN DERUFFE, THE
MFA SENIOR DESK OFFICER ON TERRORISM. WE NOTED THAT TIMELY
FRENCH ACTION WOULD BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, GIVEN THAT
KONGRA-GEL LEADERS HAVE PUBLICLY TRANSITED FRANCE IN THE
PAST, AND KONGRA-GEL-RELATED MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE DELIVERED
SATELLITE BROADCASTS FROM THE PARIS AREA. DERUFFE THANKED US
FOR THE INFORMATION AND SAID HE WOULD DISSEMINATE IT QUICKLY
TO THE APPROPRIATE FRENCH AUTHORITIES. HE FURTHER
ACKOWLEDGED THAT KONGRA-GEL HAD BEEN PRESENT ON FRENCH
TERRITORY IN THE PAST, AND THAT FOLLOWING THE EU'S APRIL 3
DECISION, FRANCE WAS EXAMINING WHAT FURTHER OPTIONS EXISTED
TO ACT ON A NATIONAL BASIS AGAINST KONGRA-GEL. AT FIRST
GLANCE, THOUGH, IT APPEARED UNCERTAIN THAT FRANCE COULD
LEGALLY INTERDICT KONGRA-GEL MEMBERS FROM LEAVING FRENCH
TERRITORY, BASED SOLELY ON THE EU'S CLEARINGHOUSE DECISION.


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