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