AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002263

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015
TAGS: PREL FR
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER BARNIER


Classified By: Amb. Howard Leach for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

--------------
Bilateral Relations
--------------


1. (C) In a thirty-minute farewell call April 5 with Foreign
Minister Barnier, Ambassador Leach reviewed improvements in
the U.S.-French relationship, noting that Barnier had played
an important role in improving communications with
Washington. He regretted that the Pope's death prevented
Barnier from traveling to Washington this week, and praised
the minister for his initiative to visit the U.S. quarterly.
Barnier said he hoped to be able to reschedule soon his visit
to Washington. He thanked the Ambassador for his own role in
helping improve relations, and reiterated his intention to
visit not only Washington, but different U.S. states on each
of his trips to improve reciprocal understanding of our
respective positions. Barnier recalled his invitation to the
U.S. under the International Visitor Program when he was
first elected to the French Assembly. He said he had been
marked by that visit and was keen to establish a similar
program in the French foreign ministry.


2. (C) Barnier said we had two centuries of close relations
and we needed to keep this essential element in mind. At the
same time, he said the U.S. should understand better what the
Europeans are trying to do together. The Ambassador recalled
President Bush's and Secretary Rice's efforts to highlight
the importance that the U.S. places on its relationship with
Europe. While friends don't always agree, it was important
to work the issues in a constructive spirit. Barnier agreed,
citing the recent negotiation over the Darfur/ICC resolution.
While the French position had irritated the U.S. side,
Barnier said he had deliberately chosen to seek a "high road"
solution and refrained from making this disagreement public.
The Ambassador noted that while neither side obtained its
ideal outcome, the result was a good, workable compromise.

--------------
Middle East
--------------


3. (C) Lebanon: Citing our cooperation on Lebanon, the
Ambassador noted that both the U.S. and France were able to
do many things better when we worked together. Barnier said
Lebanon was a good specific example where we worked together
intelligently and established the framework for broader
international cooperation to pressure the Syrians to
withdraw. Nonetheless, the situation in Lebanon remained
fragile, and it was not enough simply to get the Syrians out.
We needed to ensure that the Lebanese government moved as
quickly as possible to elections. Barnier added that we
needed to pay attention to all the Lebanese communities,
including the Shia who were patriotic nationalists. They
needed to be factored into any political approach.
Responding to the Ambassador's question, Barnier said he
believed elections could take place on schedule in the
May/June timeframe, noting that we could not accept anything
more than a minor, technical delay of a few days. He said
that anything longer would create another, unacceptable
"logic" on the ground.


4. (C) Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Ambassador Leach said
we faced a period of opportunity in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. It was important for the region and elsewhere that
Europe and the U.S. work together on the issue. Even if
positive results are not guaranteed, there is room for common
effort. Barnier concurred, recalling that he had raised this
issue during his December 2004 visit to Washington when he
said the Middle East problem should be at the top of the
agenda for the U.S. and Europe. He said he had been pleased
by President Bush's statement to this effect during his visit
to Brussels. Barnier argued that the conflict continues to
emit shockwaves within the region and beyond. Leaving the
issue unresolved threatened us all, "maybe here in France
more directly". He said there was an opportunity to take
advantage of a new phase in the dialogue between Israelis and
Palestinians. Barnier noted that the situation remained
fragile for the Palestinians in general and Abbas in
particular. We needed to watch carefully what was happening
in Jerusalem to avoid the moving of lines that would
complicate even more the establishment of a Palestinian
state. Barnier said he had praised the courage of both
Sharon and Abbas, and now we needed to get through the
Palestinian elections in July with Abbas being able to
demonstrate progress for the Palestinians. The Ambassador
noted that while we would be supportive, it was ultimately up
to the Israelis and Palestinians to make the final decisions.
Barnier concluded that there could be a positive outcome
only if Europe and the U.S. are together on this issue. The
U.S. has influence with Israel, and the Europeans with the
Arabs, Barnier argued, adding that he had gone to Israel to
"make clear that we won't compromise Israel's security."

5. (C) Iran: Noting that he would be meeting with the
visiting Iranian President and Foreign Minister later in the
day, Barnier said the EU-3's negotiations with Tehran
remained fragile. He had been impressed that after President
Chirac's presented his view on the Iran negotiations in their
last meeting, President Bush responded that he understood and
would think about Chirac's request for U.S. support to make
the EU effort more credible. The French were pleased to see
the gestures that followed. The best guarantee against
Iran's use of nuclear technology for military purposes
remains cessation of enrichment activities. The Iranians
have only agreed for the moment to extend their suspension.
The Ambassador said the U.S. supported the EU effort but
worried about Iran's commitment. Barnier said "we are
approaching this with our eyes open; we aren't naive -- but
we are convinced that the diplomatic option remains the best
one."


6. (C) Iraq/Afghanistan: Ambassador Leach said gestures from
France on both Afghanistan and Iraq would contribute further
to our relationship. We hoped that France would be able to
help finance the Afghan elections and be supportive of Iraq.
Barnier replied that these were distinct issues, but that
France would be prepared to respond in the political and
economic reconstruction of these countries. He explained
that Iraq was a difficult issue for the French, and that he
had shown his support by attending the Sharm al Sheikh
meeting. While Paris remained willing to train 1500 Iraqi
security personnel, Barnier said he preferred that Europe
pool its response, adding that the U.S. should be prepared to
see Europe act with one voice. In response to the
Ambassador's comment that we recognize that France is an
important part of Europe, Barnier said "so do we, but without
arrogance."

--------------
European Constitution Referendum
--------------


7. (C) Turning to the French referendum on the EU
Constitutional Treaty, Barnier said this was an extremely
important issue at the moment. If we wanted a strong Europe
at 25, we needed the institutions and rules in place to
better manage it. This would be a major challenge, but he
believed that the French would ultimately succumb to logic
and vote "yes". Still, a positive outcome was not
foreordained, and the French leadership would have to make
clear that the French should not sacrifice their future to
the present. If people focused only on the present, the
referendum could fail.
LEACH