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