FRENCH ON FEB. 21 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001082 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2015 TAGS: PREL KPAL IR UP MD SU CG SR BK FR SUBJECT: FRENCH ON FEB. 21 GAERC REF: A. STATE 25111 ¶B. PARIS 964 ¶C. STATE 26062 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel A) points to MFA DAS-equivalent for Common Foreign and Security Policy Pascal LeDeunff on Feb. 11 and followed up in conversation Feb. 18. LeDeunff emphasized that ministers would spend the bulk of the Feb. 21 GAERC in preparing for the EU summit with President Bush (and for the foreign ministers' agenda for Secretary Rice) the following day. LeDeunff emphasized that SIPDIS they are preparing a positive summit for the President's visit, and that the US will be pleased. ¶2. (C) On the Middle East Peace Process, LeDeunff underlined the notion that Europe is determined to seize the opportunity that currently exists for progress. He said that the French would like to see the Quartet re-energized and that they would like significant a US engagement on the issue. He noted that they would welcome the Feb. 8 Sharm al-Sheikh Sharon-Abu Mazen meeting and would discuss the March 1 London conference. FM Barnier will want to discuss how to open up a political perspective for the Palestinians. ¶3. (C) On Iraq, LeDeunff said the EU proposal to train Iraqi civil administration and security personnel was to be finalized in discussions this (Friday 2/18) morning. Here, especially, he said, the Europeans are working to deliver something that will advance the transatlantic relationship. LeDeunff claimed that France would be the top contributor to this mission. ¶4. (C) On the Balkans, the ministers will receive a report at lunch from UN rep Jessen-Petersen, according to LeDeunff, but he indicated that no action will be taken on any of the issues involving Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, or Bosnia. ¶5. (C) In response to poloff inquiry about whether any discussion of the designation of Hizbollah as a terrorist organization would be on the agenda, LeDeunff said no, underlining again that France sees the political wing of Hizbollah as a legitimate political party. He said in light of the assassination of former Lebanese PM Hariri, France would especially want to take time before considering such a move. Acknowledging the divergence of views between the US and the GOF on the issue, he said, "That's our policy. It might be worthy of criticism, but that is our policy." ¶6. (C) On the Great Lakes and Sudan, LeDeunff noted that Belgian FM de Gucht would be providing a readout of his trip to the DRC, but said he did not expect much else on these topics. ¶7. (C) On Ukraine and Moldova, LeDeunff noted that the ministers would adopt an action plan for each, and said that the EU hoped to "maximize all possibilities" to encourage democratic reform in Ukraine in light of Yushchenko's accession to the presidency there. Leach