COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES: FRENCH PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS PARIS 002662 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL FR SUBJECT: COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES: FRENCH PARTICIPATION REF: STATE 66867 ¶1. France will be represented at the April 28-30 meeting of the Community of Democracies by MFA IO Director Jean-Maurice Ripert, who will be accompanied by Ambassador-at-large for human rights issues Michel Doucen and MFA IO human rights expert Donatienne Hissard. The French Ambassdor in Santiago and a member of the embassy staff will complete the French delegation. ¶2. Asked about any French initiatives, Hissard told poloff April 19 that France preferred not to be "in listening mode," but that the GoF had received few details from the Chileans concerning the round tables on various issues. When we cited examples of initiatives launched since the Seoul ministerial, and stressed that the USG welcomed creative proposals, Hissard had no specifics to offer. Hissard queried whether Under Secretary Dobriansky would be in Santiago, but made no request for a bilateral meeting. ¶3. According to the Chilean Embassy in Paris, the Chilean Director General for political affairs met with Ripert and MFA Polical Director Stanislas de Laboulaye in early March to press for high-level attendance. The Chilean Embassy told us that France had considered sending Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Renaud Muselier, but that Muselier was unavailable. WOLFF