MFA DISCUSSES VISIT OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002967

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015
TAGS: FR PGOV PREL RS
SUBJECT: MFA DISCUSSES VISIT OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND
EU-RUSSIA MAY 10 SUMMIT

Classified By: CHARGE JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D

1.(C) Summary: Poloff met with the MFA's PDAS equivalent for
Russia and the former Soviet space Serge Smessow on April 25
to discuss Armenian President Kocharian's April 21-22 visit
to Paris and French thoughts on the upcoming EU-Russia
Summit. Smessow was confident negotiation of the "4 Spaces"
of EU-Russia cooperation would conclude before the May 10
Summit.


Visit of Armenian President
--------------

2.(C) Armenian President Robert Kocharian visited France
April 21-22 and met with President Chirac as well as members
of the Armenian community, Smessow said. On April 22, the
two presidents laid wreaths at the statue of Komitas, an
Armenian musician. The statue memorializes as well the
victims of the Turkish massacres of Armenians in 1915 and
Armenian soldiers killed fighting for France. During his
speech Chirac did not use the word "genocide" to describe the
1915 mass killings, but reprised a GOF phrase encouraging
Turkey to "examine its history" with regards to the 1915
massacres. This official reticence on Chirac's part
contrasts with the French Parliament, which in 2001 passed a
law containing only one article: "France publicly recognizes
the Armenian genocide of 1915." The law caused an abrupt
downturn in Franco-Turkish relations and remains an irritant
in today's somewhat improved ties between the two countries.


3.(C) According to estimates by ethnic Armenian
organizations, France contains the largest population of
Armenians in Europe with estimates of about 400,000 centered
in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, many of them descendents of
those who fled the 1915 genocide to refuge in France.
Smessow said that due to fears of Turkey entering the
European Union the Armenian community is leaning towards
voting "no" in the May 29 referendum on the EU Constitution
and therefore, the French government is working hard to
convince the population that the constitution is not linked
to Turkish accession. Smessow noted that Armenians in
Armenia are in favor of Turkey's accession because Armenia
would then have a border with the EU and in addition, Turkey
would be forced to resolve its border issues with Armenia.
Smessow said the two presidents held a private meeting with
no notetakers during which he assumed the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed.

"4 SPACES" NEARING CONCLUSION
--------------

4.(C) When asked about the current status of the EU-Russia
action plans on the "four spaces," Smessow responded that
negotiations are 95 percent complete. Currently, he said,
only two questions remain: visa concerns and economic
matters. Russia insists, said Smessow, that its citizens
traveling on diplomatic passports be granted visa-free access
to the EU. Given past abuses by Russia, many EU countries
are hesitant, said Smessow. In addition, Smessow added that
Russian reluctance to accept non-Russians who had entered the
EU from Russia and who were subsequently deported from the EU
is still a problem and a prerequisite for easing reciprocal
visa requirements. On the economic front, Russia continues
to hold fast to its position on Siberia overflight fees, said
Smessow.

5.(C) After the May 10 EU-Russia Summit, and assuming that
the "4 spaces" have been approved, Smessow said the EU and
Russia were looking towards 2007 as the next marker for
evaluating progress on implementing the "4 spaces" and
possibly working to negotiate new agreements for cooperation.
Looking ahead to negotiating the last pieces of the "4
spaces" agreements, Smessow said France was "open but not
blind." (Comment: This phrase, reminiscent of President
Reagan's "trust but verify" direction, conveniently papers
over the fact that France and other like-minded EU countries
prefer to focus on being open with Russia (especially in the
economic and commercial sense),and are reluctant to
criticize Moscow for democratic shortcomings and human rights
abuses. End comment.)

Chirac in Moscow
--------------

6.(C) Smessow confirmed that President Chirac will be in
Moscow May 9 for the WWII commemorative events. Chirac does
not plan any bilateral activities, but will preside over the
dedication of a Charles de Gaulle monument in front of the
Cosmos hotel in Moscow.
ROSENBLATT