FRENCH FOLLOW-UP ON BRITISH REQUEST FOR

UNCLAS PARIS 001838 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AF UK PREL SNAR FR SUBJECT: FRENCH FOLLOW-UP ON BRITISH REQUEST FOR COUNTERNARCOTICS CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHANISTAN REF: SECSTATE 39676 We learned from the British Embassy in Paris that they had faxed Foreign Minister Straw's letter to the French MFA's Anti-Drug Policy Coordinator; the MFA head of Department for Narcotics; the MFA cabinet and the South Asia desk. We delivered reftel points to these same offices March 10 and March 14. Ambassador Vidon, the French Drug Policy Coordinator, and Cyril Gerardon, the Desk Officer for Afghanistan, each confirmed that the British letter was delivered in late February/early March. Gerardon said that it is too early to tell what the French contribution, if any, to the trust fund will be, but he noted that the French recognize the importance of combating the growing drug problem in Afghanistan. Leach