FRANCE: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, CODE OF CONDUCT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001542

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM, EUR/WE AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015
TAGS: ETTC PREL MARR CH FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, CODE OF CONDUCT AND
THE TOOLBOX

REF: STATE 39909

Classified By: Economic Section Chief Ken Merten; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) Summary: Our MFA contact reported that internal EU
negotiations on the modalities of a strengthened Code of
Conduct were completed, while discussions on the "toolbox"
were almost done. This GOF export control expert reaffirmed
the belief that the EU China Arms Embargo would be lifted
before the end of June. He also said that France supports
"reduced format" EU discussions to decide which items must
not be ultimately considered for sale to China. End summary.


2. (SBU) On March 8, Econoff met with Jacques Maillard, MFA
Head of Export Controls Office in the Economic Directorate,
to obtain an update on EU discussions on the China Arms
Embargo and, in particular, the planned strengthening of the
EU Code of Conduct and the "toolbox" for post-embargo
countries. Econoff shared reftel points concerning the China
arms embargo with Maillard, who responded that essentially
the same points had been made the previous day in Washington
at a meeting that EU representatives had with NSC Senior
Director for European and Eurasian Affairs, Dan Fried,
implying that he had already been fully briefed on that
meeting.


3. (C) Maillard mentioned that he was aware of the planned
March 14-15 visit to Washington of EU High Representative
Solana's special representative for nonproliferation issues,
Annalisa Gianella. Maillard said that a French "expert" from
the MFA would be accompanying her -- however, without naming
the individual, Maillard noted in confidence that the
"expert" was quite unfamiliar with the subject.


4. (SBU) Maillard said the GOF supported "reduced format"
internal EU discussions among the six countries which
actually export significant military goods, presumably to
decide which items must not be considered for sale to China.
However, he thought there was no way out of discussions that
include all 25 EU member and candidate countries. With
respect to a strategic dialog with the U.S. along the lines
mentioned in reftel, Maillard thought it would be more
appropriate after the lifting of the embargo than before.
Speaking of the EU China Arms Embargo, Maillard reiterated
his view that it would be lifted before the end of the
Luxembourg presidency, possibly in May, but certainly before
the end of June. When EconOff mentioned coincidental timing
of the mid-June Paris Air Show, Maillard recalled what he
termed a "boycott" of the 2003 Paris Air Show by USG
officials, but noted that U.S. industry was still
well-represented. Maillard seemed unconcerned about any
possible impact EU actions might have on U.S. attendance at
the 2005 Paris Air Show.


5. (SBU) Econoff raised the Code of Conduct and the toolbox
measures for post-embargo countries, to which Maillard
responded that internal EU negotiations over the modalities
of a strengthened CoC had been completed, while the toolbox
was almost done. He gave no further details or an explicit
date when either would be adopted, but implied it would be in
the next several weeks. Lastly, when Econoff asked if the
GOF had made any recent contact with the U.S. legislative
branch, Maillard said no but reported that HMG
representatives had met recently with congressional staffers,
including Thomas Moore from the House International Relations
Committee.
Leach