HAITI: BIO INFO ON NEW FRENCH AMBASSADOR

S E C R E T PARIS 006974

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, INR, EB/IFD/ODF AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2025
TAGS: PREL EAID HA FR
SUBJECT: HAITI: BIO INFO ON NEW FRENCH AMBASSADOR

REF: MERTEN-GRIFFITHS E-MAILS

Classified By: ECON KENNETH MERTEN FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) As part of an office call to discuss France's "co
development" policy (septel),Econ Couns and intern met on 5
October with the newly named French Ambassador to Haiti,
Christian Connan. Connan said he is looking forward to his
new assignment, which will start in January. He asked Econ
Couns for a frank assessment of GOF policy towards Haiti.
Econ Couns told him that the USG appreciated the effective
cooperation with the GOF on the elections and development
agenda, and particularly appreciated the work the GOF was
attempting to do with the EU and the European Commission in
urging them to be more flexible in their disbursements with
the IGOH. Connan said that an old friend of his in the
Canadian diplomatic service told him, "Frankly France does
nothing in Haiti," and leaves most of the work to Canada and
the U.S. He said he was trying to get a "true" picture of
what allies thought of France's efforts there.


2. (S) We found Connan very friendly but not particularly
dynamic. His areas of expertise are Germany and development
issues. He had several tours in Germany in the 1980's and
early 1990's, has a doctorate in German studies, and noted
with great pride that he was the first French diplomat ever
to participate in an exchange program with Germany. He is
currently head of MFA's "Co development" (giving money and
training to illegal immigrants and returning them to their
country of origin to start businesses and create jobs)
office, where he's been since 2002. He appears to have been
closely associated with the Socialists and has spent the last
several years in the "wilderness." Presumably he is once
again seen as "safe," hence this new appointment. Prior to
being the "Co development coordinator," Connan served as
France's Ambassador to Mali from 1998-2002.


3. (C) Connan, born in Dunkirk on 18 October 1947, started
his professional life as a German teacher (1974 - 1980) after
which he attended ENA (Ecole nationale d'administration) from
'82-84. After joining the diplomatic service in 1984 he went
to the Defense Ministry where he worked on the staff of
Minister Charles Hernu (a confidant of Mitterand, who,
according to L'Express magazine was a well-paid KGB/Bulgarian
mole starting in at least 1953, and who resigned after the
Greenpeace "Rainbow Warrior" incident in the south Pacific)
and his successor Paul Quils.


4. (SBU) Connan said he wanted to meet again with Econ Couns
closer to his departure for Port-au-Prince to discuss Haiti
and U.S.-GOF coordination.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON