FRENCH RESPONSE ON MARCH 16 GAERC DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001727 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2015 TAGS: ETTC PREL PTER HR CH LE KPAL RS GG FR SY EUN SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE ON MARCH 16 GAERC DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 39909 ¶B. STATE 39018 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 1.(U) Post delivered reftel points to Pascal LeDeunff, MFA deputy director for CFSP, and Caroline Ferrari, DAS-equivalent for European External Relations at the MFA on March 9 and followed up in conversation on March 14 and 15. CHINA ARMS EMBARGO -------------- ¶2. (C) LeDeunff said that discussion of the embargo is not on the GAERC agenda. He also underlined the importance of EU non-proliferation specialist Giannella's current visit to the US, noting that there is a French diplomat seconded to Solana's staff on the mission. Middle East/Lebanon-Syria/Iran -------------- ¶3. (C) According to LeDeunff, the Middle East will be the subject of the ministers' lunch, where three topics will be covered: Lebanon, Middle East peace process, and Iran. On Lebanon, he said the ministers would issue a conclusion that would be firm, and will be the first time that the EU calls for an "immediate and complete" implementation of UNSCR 1559. He said the EU will also announce that it is ready to send a mission to assist in election observing. He noted that it is important that the EU remains mobilized, pressuring Damascus. ¶4. (C) On the Middle East peace process, LeDeunff said there are no conclusions planned, but that the EU will emphasize again that there exists a dynamic now which must be taken advantage of. He said they would call for action on the Solana plan, and for more assistance to the Palestinian police. He noted that the French would continue to support the organization of an international conference on the peace process as called for in phase II of the roadmap. ¶5. (C) On Iran, LeDeunff said that FMs Barnier, Straw and Fischer will provide a report on last week's working group meeting in Geneva (NOTE: The EU-3 delivered a copy of the report to the EU Presidency on March 3). He said the Europeans hail the decision of the US to support their negotiations to halt Iran's attempted production of nuclear weapons. CROATIA -------------- ¶6. (C) Ferrari noted that there was no agreement at the COREPER to open negotiations with Croatia given its failure to deliver Gotovina to the ICTY, and she said she believes the GAERC will not come to consensus to open negotiations either. She said that the French position would be against setting a new target date since March 17 will (apparently) arrive without compliance. She assessed that the FMs would leave the decision to the heads of state at the European Council on March 22-23. FM Barnier has also underlined French opposition to opening negotiations now, noting on March 14 in a conference on the Balkans that the conditions established for Croatia's beginning negotiations had included "total cooperation" with the ICTY--a condition, he said, that no one would abandon. "There will be no shortcuts or indulgences for any of these (former Yugoslav) countries," said Barnier. ¶7. (U) In addition, President Chirac's spokesman, speaking after Chirac's Mar 14 meeting with Carla del Ponte, said, "for France, the Union can take the decision to open these negotiations when the Council certifies Croatia's full cooperation with the ICTY." He also confirmed "France's support for the court's action and notably for its efforts to arrest fugitives." UNCHR -------------- ¶8. (C) LeDeunff said that the UNCHR will not be discussed at the ministers' level but said the EU will take several initiatives at the CHR: on the death penalty, religious intolerance, children, North Korea, Burma, Israeli settlements, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Colombia, and Afghanistan. MOLDOVA/GEORGIA -------------- ¶9. (C) LeDeunff said these subjects would not be discussed at the GAERC at the ministerial level, but noted that the EU continues to consider a mission to replace the BMO in Georgia. SUDAN -------------- ¶10. (C) LeDeunff said he expects that the EU will continue to press for quick adoption of the UNSC draft resolution, including its accountability component. He said that if FM Barnier speaks on the subject during the GAERC, he would press his European colleagues to convince the United States to close the dossier by acting quickly and supporting the comprehensive resolution. LeDeunff also noted that the French hope that the EU will increase its aid to the African Union, given that the pronounced lack of aid. Leach