FRENCH DEPUTIES PROTEST INCARCERATION OF NYT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004868

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KJUS FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH DEPUTIES PROTEST INCARCERATION OF NYT
JOURNALIST JUDITH MILLER


Classified By: DCM Alex Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) SUMMARY: French National Assembly members Pierre
Lellouche and Francois Loncle visited the Embassy July 12 to
protest the imprisonment of New York Times journalist Judith
Miller. They also requested access to Miller in prison.
Following the meeting Lellouche and Loncle met across the
street from the Embassy with journalists who had gathered in
response to their previously issued press communique. In
view of the communique and the press conference, both of
which came to Embassy's attention shortly before meeting with
the DCM was to take place, the DCM declined to meet with
Lellouche and Loncle and arranged for the delegation to be
received by our Information Officer. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) DCM agreed to meet July 11 with National Assembly
members Pierre Lellouche (Center-right UMP - a long-time
Embassy contact) and Francois Loncle (Socialist Party) to
receive their protest concerning the imprisonment of NYT
journalist Judith Miller. Prior to the meeting, we learned
from the Press that Lellouche and Loncle had issued a press
statement announcing the meeting at the Embassy, outlining
the points they would make, and giving notice that they would
reply to press questions outside the Embassy following the
meeting. DCM contacted Lellouche to tell him that we
objected to his attempt to use his meeting in this way --
which was not in keeping with longstanding, close
relationship the Embassy and he have enjoyed. DCM informed
him that because of the way he had misled us, and since his
intent was to score media points, he had asked the Embassy IO
to meet with the two deputies in his stead.


3. (U) Lellouche and Loncle, accompanied by Lellouche's
diplomatic advisor who acted as notetaker, met with IO as
arranged. Poloff also attended as notetaker. After
complaining about the meeting being "downgraded," something
he characterized as an unfriendly act to friends of the
United States, Lellouche proceeded to state that he had been
shocked by Miller's incarceration. Lellouche said he was
saddened to see the liberty of the press being put into
question. Lellouche continued that he and Loncle, probably
accompanied by Robert Menard of Reporters Without Borders,
wanted to arrange to see Miller in prison. Lellouche said
that he had met with Miller a few weeks ago and knew her
well. Loncle associated himself with Lellouche's remarks,
saying that there was a long tradition of journalists' rights
to protect their sources. He said he was shocked by Miller's
incarceration, which gave a bad image of the United States.
Other countries, he said, would see this action as a stamp of
approval to imprison journalists. Lellouche noted that he
had been in Doha last week and that the Miller story was
being covered extensively by al-Jazeera.


4. (U) IO responded that the U.S. had a long history of
protecting the rights of journalists, including their right
to protect sources. These rights, she said had to be
balanced against national security concerns. This was not
the first time, she said, that a journalist had been
imprisoned. Press Officer continued that the case was before
the courts. Accordingly, the Executive branch had no role in
Miller's imprisonment. Lellouche responded that just as the
Judiciary was independent of the Executive, the President and
the Secretary were free to pronounce on the matter and should
do so. Lellouche claimed that Miller was being harshly
punished by the judge for her failure to cooperate, and was
being denied access to books and newspapers. He indicated
that he intended to communicate with the Secretary urging her
to express her disapproval of the judicial decision in
Miller's case. Lellouche added that the U.S. Congress should
see the Miller case as a wake-up call, and pass a law to
allow journalists to protect their sources. IO agreed to
communicate the concerns of Lellouche and Loncle to the
Department. Lellouche concluded by saying that he wanted the
U.S. government to facilitate his visit to Miller, failing
which, he threatened to create a scandal outside the prison
gates.


5. (U) After leaving the Embassy, Lellouche and Loncle met
with the press for about 15 minutes at the entrance to the
park across the street from the Embassy.


6. (C) COMMENT: Lellouche is a long-time Atlanticist and
self-styled friend of the U.S. in the governing UMP party,
Unfortunately, his political ambitions -- he is currently
beginning his run at the UMP's candidacy for Mayor of Paris
-- appear to have clouded his sense of fair play.
Lellouche's original request, to meet urgently with
Ambassador Stapleton was turned down on a technicality (the
Ambassador has not yet presented his credentials). Were it
not for that, it appears he was prepared to mislead the USG's
newly arrived envoy about the full purpose of his meeting
request in order to grab headlines to promote his electoral
prospects.
STAPLETON