FRANCE FAVORS RATIONALIZING WEST AFRICA UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003088 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 TAGS: KPKO SL LI IV UK FR UNSC SUBJECT: FRANCE FAVORS RATIONALIZING WEST AFRICA UN MISSIONS - WITHOUT LINKAGE TO UNOCI INCREASE REF: A. LONDON 3679 ¶B. STATE 80028 Classified By: CDA Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Embassy Africa watcher raised ref B points on authorizing the UNSYG to transfer peacekeeping units among existing missions in West Africa with MFA AF PDAS-equivalent Elisabeth Barbier and MFA IO DAS-equivalent Jean Pierre Lacroix on May 6. ¶2. (C) Barbier, while noting that IO had the lead on this issue, told us that France had no basic objection to our proposal, and should be able to support it, consistent with France's long-held view of the need for a regional approach to the crises in West Africa. In a separate meeting, Lacroix said that France was "absolutely" in favor of better interaction among PKOs operating in the same region and that France had been suggesting this for some time. Lacroix cautioned that such arrangements would have to be well-planned, taking into account the conditions in each country, and ensuring that missions were not depleted to the extent that they were unable to accomplish their mandates. He added that troop contributors would need to be consulted, and their agreement would not be automatic, notwithstanding that the same countries had troops in both Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. ¶3. (C) Lacroix continued that France shared USG concerns on budget issues and was ready to work with the USG on this proposal to ensure that contributions were not increased. ¶4. (C) Lacroix insisted that there should be no linkage between this proposal and the discussions on increasing the troop ceiling and revision of the mandate for UNOCI (see ref A, para 3). ROSENBLATT