UN DEMOCRACY FUND: FRENCH RESPONSE ON PROPOSED

UNCLAS PARIS 004041 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM FR SUBJECT: UN DEMOCRACY FUND: FRENCH RESPONSE ON PROPOSED LETTER TO UNSYG REF: STATE 99849 ¶1. Poloff raised with MFA IO contacts May 31 the proposed letter from permanent representatives to UNSYG Annan requesting him to set up the UN Democracy Fund. DAS-equivalent for human rights and humanitarian affairs Beatrice le Fraper du Hellen responded June 7 that while France was very supportive of the Fund, and may be willing to contribute to it, the GoF was not in agreement with the structure proposed by the UN Secretariat. ¶2. Fraper said that the GoF could not sign the letter as currently drafted as the links between the Fund and existing agencies and with the High Commissioner for Human Rights were too tenuous. WOLFF