Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS5942
2005-09-01 13:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FM DOUSTE-BLAZY'S SPEECH TO FRENCH AMBASSADORS

Tags:  PREL PGOV TU FR EUN UNSC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005942 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU FR EUN UNSC
SUBJECT: FM DOUSTE-BLAZY'S SPEECH TO FRENCH AMBASSADORS

REF: PARIS 5818

Classified By: Acting POL Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005942

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU FR EUN UNSC
SUBJECT: FM DOUSTE-BLAZY'S SPEECH TO FRENCH AMBASSADORS

REF: PARIS 5818

Classified By: Acting POL Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: FM Douste-Blazy kicked off the August 30
second session of the annual Ambassadors' Conference with a
more detailed elaboration or "road map" for President
Chirac's foreign policy "grand orientation" of the previous
day (reftel). On relations with the U.S., Douste-Blazy said
that the U.S. had discovered the limits of unilateralism and
was prepared to work together with Europe, and that Europe
for its part needed to seize the opportunity to establish a
"true partnership" with the U.S. Along with European Affairs
Minister-Delegate Catherine Colonna in separate remarks, he
outlined next steps for French EU policy following the failed
referendum for an EU constitutional treaty. On Turkey, he
underscored Chirac's statement that Ankara would need to
'clarify' its declaration on non-recognition of Cyprus. In
contrast to Chirac, Douste-Blazy acknowledged NATO as a major
global actor, expressing confidence that this would not limit
the development of a European defense identity as NATO
evolved to adapt to the post Cold-War security environment.
He cited the emergence of new regional actors to defend the
'fact' of multipolarity and the need for enlargement of the
UN Security Council. END SUMMARY.

Europe as U.S. Partner
--------------


2. (SBU) Douste-Blazy described the United States as having
acted to use its immense political, economic, technological
and cultural power "to take things in hand" in the vacuum
left by the end of the Cold War. Although not mentioning
Iraq by name, he asserted that the U.S. had now realized "the
limits of its action and the limits of unilateralism." The
U.S. had learned that no country alone could act and decide
for others when it came to international peace and stability.
As a result, Douste-Blazy contended, the U.S. had
rediscovered the value of a transatlantic partnership based
on confidence and mutual respect. He called on Europe to
seize the occasion thus presented to play its rightful role
in global affairs, saying, "It would be paradoxical if, at
the moment when the U.S. appears ready to accept a real

partnership with the EU, the EU retreats to deal with our
internal difficulties."


3. (SBU) Douste-Blazy stressed the value of the French-U.S.
relationship: "We work and exchange a lot with the U.S. On
the ground as with ideas ... the dialogue produces good
results. I believe this trend will continue: in any case, I
will work with our American partners in a spirit of
friendship." At the same time, he saw a need for French
firmness, given France's need to defend "its vision of the
world and its conception of a balanced partnership."


4. (SBU) Douste-Blazy described a changing global
environment for organizations such as NATO, the United
Nations and the European Union in the post-Cold-War period.
Saying that NATO was in the process of redefining its role,
he asserted that this would not impair the necessary
development of a European defense identity. He said it was
also time to take into account the appearance of new actors
such as China, Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa and
Nigeria. In this context, he said, multipolarity should be
viewed as 'a fact' rather than as a reflection of a French
aim to counterbalance the world's only superpower.


5. (SBU) Douste-Blazy asserted that regional groupings would
better assure world harmony over the longer term, whence the
logic of enlarging the UN Security Council. He outlined
France's "delicate task" as one of moving "from the status of
subordinate to that of partner, subject by subject, crisis by
crisis, on a case-by-case basis" with respect to which
institution was most appropriate to take a specific action.
This was a question for all powers, rising or established, in
their relations with the United States. This dynamic would
be present in the transatlantic relationship for some time to
come.

Next Steps on Europe
--------------


6. (SBU) Douste-Blazy acknowledged the existence of a crisis
in Europe that had been "opened, in fact revealed" by the
French and Dutch rejections of the European Constitution.
This situation was aggravated, he said, by the EU's
subsequent failure to come to agreement on the budget for
2007-2013, which had plunged Europeans into a period of
uncertainty and trepidation. He attributed the failure of
the referendum primarily to the French public's perception
that the most recent enlargement had been decided over their
heads. "We've been put on notice," he said, and French
leaders would have to take the referendum into account.
Echoing Chirac's speech of the previous day, he called for
action on economic governance (including tougher talk with
the European Central Bank); more funds for European-wide
research and development; more attention to security -- in
regards to terrorism, aviation security, and health scares;
and external action on issues such as WMD, poverty and
natural catastrophes.

Turkey and Enlargement
--------------


7. (SBU) Regarding Turkey,s declaration of non-recognition
of Cyprus in connection with its signature of the protocol
extending the EU-Turkey customs union to new EU member
states, Douste-Blazy amplified on Chirac's more general
statement of the previous day by noting that, "It's hardly
conceivable that a country would ask to enter into a
community without recognizing one of its members.... We're
therefore within our rights to ask Turkey to clarify its
position and to undertake to implement all its obligations,
including those related to the access of member states to
Turkish ports and airports." Douste-Blazy said that France
intended to respect its commitments vis-a-vis Turkey but
expected Turkey -- like other candidate countries -- to do
the same with respect to the European Union.


8. (SBU) In separate, following remarks, European Affairs
Minister-Delegate Catherine Colonna said Bulgaria and
Romania, whose accession treaty was signed in April, would
join the EU soon, "inasmuch as they conform to the
obligations they have assumed." The requirements for
Croatia, she said, were also known: Zagreb must cooperate
with the ICTY. As for Turkey, "whether it's membership or
another solution," its future with the EU would only be
written at the end of a long process and would still be
subject to French veto. "If the conditions are fulfilled,
the negotiations can open. At their end, if the path of
membership still holds, the French people will have the last
word in a referendum." Colonna also reminded the gathered
ambassadors that Chirac and PM de Villepin had expressed
several times this summer France's desire for a dialogue with
its European partners on the dynamic of future enlargements.

Middle East/Iraq
--------------


9. (C) On the Middle East, Douste-Blazy said, "We will do
everything in order that, after the years of drama and
setbacks, the virtuous circle leading to peace will be
relaunched." He saluted Israel's withdrawal of its colonies
from Gaza, calling it an "exemplary operation" and
"remarkably executed." On Iraq, he reiterated the GOF's
absolute support for the Iraqi people in determining their
own future, while reiterating the red-line against any French
military presence in Iraq. Douste-Blazy also floated the
idea of a possible conference on Iraq, suggesting that,
"perhaps we should reflect" on reuniting the Sharm al Sheikh
conference participants "to reaffirm the perspective of a
withdrawal of foreign troops" and to accompany the coming
stages of the political process. (Comment: MFA contacts
tried to downplay Douste-Blazy's proposal, claiming it did
not yet constitute a new initiative, but conceded they would
need to seek clarification from his office, as the Foreign
Minister reportedly inserted this language into the speech
himself.) Douste-Blazy briefly mentioned Lebanon, noting
that the renascence of Lebanese democracy and sovereignty
gave new hope to the region; he made no mention of Syria in
his remarks.

Africa
--------------


10. (SBU) Noting that Africa occupied a 'particular place'
in the heart and conscience of France, Douste-Blazy asserted
that there would be neither security nor economic growth in
the Western world without stabilization and development in
Africa, especially given Africa's geographic proximity to
Europe -- 14 kilometers at its closest. Security and
development, he continued, were inseparably intertwined. He
emphasized that France's aim of ensuring that economic growth
in Africa no longer would depend exclusively on development
aid. "We're working to defeat this unacceptable paradox," he
said. As for conflict regions in Africa, France would
continue to press for the growing political engagement of
regional mediators, especially the African Union (AU).

Other
--------------


11. (SBU) Douste-Blazy only briefly addressed Asia, and
mentioned Iran and North Korea only in passing while in
connection with nonproliferation.


12. (SBU) Douste-Blazy also briefly addressed internal
ministry concerns, and the tight budget the Quai faces in

2006. He stressed the growing importance of public diplomacy
in foreign relations.
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