FRENCH ON JUNE 13 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004095 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015 TAGS: PREL CM IR IZ LE YI PARM FR EUN SUBJECT: FRENCH ON JUNE 13 GAERC REF: A. STATE 105235 ¶B. PARIS 3921 ¶C. STATE 102505 ¶D. BISHARAT EMAIL OF 6/7 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff spoke with MFA Common Foreign and Security Policy deputy chief Pascal LeDeunff on June 6 about the upcoming GAERC, and followed up with reftel (A) points on June 7 and reftel (D) points on June 10. Reftel B notes that the French continue to oppose reimposing measures against the Cuban regime. According to LeDeunff, the main topics for the GAERC in addition to Cuba will be Kosovo, the Middle East, the June 20 US-EU Summit, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and this September's UNGA. ¶2. (C) On Kosovo, LeDeunff noted that the foreign ministers would examine the joint report from Solana and the EU Commission that assessed the role of the EU. LeDeunff, who said he had not yet read the report, anticipates an "important discussion" of its contents. He noted that the EU would stay engaged in evaluating the adherence to human rights norms in the region and on decisions related to final status. ¶3. (C) LeDeunff said that topics in the Middle East to be covered include Israeli-Palestinian issues, and Lebanon -- on which the GAERC will issue language supporting the elections and condeming the recent attack that killed journalist Samir Kassir. ¶4. (C) In response to reftel D points on the upcoming Iranian presidential elections, LeDeunff said that the French share our concerns about the elections, and noted that the French are supporting a UK proposal to issue language on the election at the GAERC that would mark the EU's concerns. ¶5. (C) LeDeunff also noted that the ministers will devote time to preparing the June 20 U.S.-EU Summit, and working on the declaration for that meeting. The member states will also be seeking to arrive at a number of joint EU positions on various issues to be presented at the September UNGA, and preparing for the June 21-22 joint U.S. - EU conference on Iraq in Brussels. ¶6. (C) LeDeunff said that the GAERC will again discuss events in Uzbekistan (as at the May 23 GAERC). WOLFF