Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS4918
2005-07-15 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

NABIL SHAATH ON UNGA SEPARATION BARRIER ISSUE,

Tags:  PREL PGOV KPAL IS FR UNGA UNSC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004918 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IPA AND IO/UMP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL IS FR UNGA UNSC
SUBJECT: NABIL SHAATH ON UNGA SEPARATION BARRIER ISSUE,
FRANCE'S FCC-EQUIVALENT, AND GAZA

REF: PARIS 4897

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ALEX WOLFF, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004918

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/IPA AND IO/UMP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL IS FR UNGA UNSC
SUBJECT: NABIL SHAATH ON UNGA SEPARATION BARRIER ISSUE,
FRANCE'S FCC-EQUIVALENT, AND GAZA

REF: PARIS 4897

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ALEX WOLFF, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Following reftel report that FM Douste-Blazy would
raise French concerns about an emergency special session at
UNGA on the separation barrier, PA DPM Nabil Shaath confirmed
to the DCM July 14 that Douste-Blazy had indeed raised the
issue with him. Shaath said he would report GOF concerns
back to Abu Mazen. Shaath believed that it would take direct
approaches to PA President Abu Mazen to overrule FM Al
Kidwa's zeal to resume the Tenth Emergency Special Session.
The DCM raised USG concerns, saying the special session would
have no positive effect and rather, would be extremely
unhelpful. Shaath agreed, but said that Al Kidwa was intent
on pursuing the issue at the UN. He likened Al Kidwa to the
Alec Guinness character in Bridge over the River Kwai; like
the bridge engineer, Al Kidwa does what he knows how to do --
UN resolutions -- even when they are politically
self-defeating.


2. (C) Shaath, who said he was also responsible for media
issues for the Palestinian Authority, was in Paris to meet
with officials from the Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel
(CSA),France's FCC-equivalent. He said he was interested in
promoting a free media environment in the PA, but wanted also
to be against incitement. In this regard, he said he thought
the French CSA model was relevant. (Note: Last year, the CSA
successfully banned al-Manar, Hezbollah's satellite
television station and PKK-linked Medya TV, among others.
End note) Shaath also expressed interest in the FCC and the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting and said he would be
willing to meet with these entities for any insights they
might have.


3. (C) Shaath also commented briefly on the Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza, saying "it really had to work" given
that it contained 40 per cent of the Palestinian population.
Abu Mazen, however, needs to be able to show results.
Furthermore, he hoped that Abu Mazen would not be set up for
failure, given PM Sharon's restrictions on providing
Palestinian security forces with guns and ammunition, which
Shaath characterized as a "security catch-22."
STAPLETON