1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche points to MFA CFSP
deputy Pascal LeDeunff on Jan. 18 and followed in
conversation with LeDeunff Jan 28. LeDeunff noted that the
French are awaiting "with enthusiasm" the visits to Europe of
both President Bush and Secretary Rice. With regard to the
President's February 22 visit to the EU, LeDeunff noted that
the PolDirs had discussed the agenda with Assistant Secretary
Jones during her Jan 17-18 meetings in Luxembourg. He noted
that the Europeans in general and the French in particular
are looking forward to the opportunity to relaunch a dialogue
with the United States to find a resolution to the crises in
Iraq and the Middle East.



2. (C) LeDeunff stated that no action will be taken on the
China arms embargo, the toolbox, or the Code of Conduct
before the President's visit. "Discussion" on this issue, he
said, "is frozen" for now.



3. (C) On Ukraine, LeDeunff said that the conclusions that
would emerge from the GAERC will be very general in nature.
He notes that the discussion is just beginning on what the EU
will do with regard to Ukraine. The French, he said, want to
keep Ukraine within the "neighborhood" framework agreed at
The Hague in December. He noted that he envisioned other
member states pushing for more for Ukraine, but said the
French are firm in their position.



4. (C) LeDeunff said the ministers will be considering
"adaptations" to the EU's Cuba policy at the GAERC, insisting
that the US and the EU have the same objectives in Cuba ---
the liberation of political prisoners, respect for human
rights -- but view differently the best means of achieving
those goals. "We like to use the carrot," he said, "you like
the stick." He asserted that even the mention of changes to
the European Cuba policy had resulted in the release of some
prisoners. He underlined that there is a broad European
consensus on Cuba policy.



5. (C) Hizbollah will not be discussed at the GAERC,
LeDeunff said, but he emphasized that the Middle East and
Iraq will be important topics. The ministers will discuss
the planned March 1 Palestinian reform meeting in London, and
he said, as part of the upcoming American visits, the French
will seek EU pressure on the USG to open the second phase of
the road map and hold the international conference on final
status. "There is a favorable climate now," he said, "and we
must act as quickly as possible. We are going to urge the US
to engage itself." LeDeunff also said that the Europeans
were likely to call on Lebanon and Syria to implement UNSCR
1559, emphasizing especially the obligation to disarm.



6. (C) On Iraq, LeDeunff noted that the GAERC will provide
the first opportunity for the EU to offer its view on the
just-completed Iraqi elections. He noted that while he could
not prejudge the EU statement before the elections, his sense
is that it will be very near to the US message- that an
important step has been taken with the holding of elections,
and that the EU is ready to support democratic and economic
progress in Iraq.
Leach