PRELIMINARY FRENCH REACTION TO EXECUTIVE ORDER ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004562 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/RA AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETTC IR FR SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY FRENCH REACTION TO EXECUTIVE ORDER ON PROLIFERATION FINANCING REF: STATE 119909 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reason 1 .4 B/D ¶1. (C) We shared June 28 reftel talking points with the MFA's Disarmament Office Deputy Veronique Vouland, previewing the planned release of the Executive Order on proliferation financing and asking for French support. Vouland, accompanied by disarmament desk officer Etienne de Gonneville, took note of the aim of the Executive Order, adding that France shared U.S. concerns against proliferation of WMD. She stated, however, that she could only provide us with a preliminary reaction as key MFA officials, including Political Director Stanislas Laboulaye and Disarmament DAS-equivalent director Francois Richier were in Berlin for EU3 consultations on Iran. Vouland expressed appreciation for the advance notice, but also suggested that timing of our consultation did not allow much time for an official reaction. Any public French reaction, if one is decided upon, would not likely be made until the MFA's June 30 press briefing. ¶2. (C) Vouland and de Gonneville also wondered about the potential impact of our announcement, coming on the heels of Iranian elections, on the EU3's discussions with Iran. She referred to the June 27 Washington Post article on this subject and asked whether we had the names of any specific Iranian entities to be cited. We noted that the list would be made public in conjunction with the release of the Executive Order. In terms of specifics, they also asked how this executive order differed from existing sanctions we have against Iran and if the EO represented a new U.S. strategy on Iran. We noted that the EO is not directed exclusively at Iran and that it is designed to more effectively plug loopholes in WMD trafficking. Our MFA interlocutors inquired if entities from other countries, such as Pakistan or France, would also be cited in the planned announcement. WOLFF