FRENCH INITIAL REACTION TO U.S. DEMARCHE IS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006985

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015
TAGS: MARR AF FR NATO
SUBJECT: FRENCH INITIAL REACTION TO U.S. DEMARCHE IS
SUPPORTIVE OF SEEBRIG DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: STATE 185395

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, Reason 1
.4 B/D


1. (C) In his October 6 and 7 meetings in Paris with MFA
A/S-Equivalent Director for Strategic Affairs Philippe Carre
and MOD Diplomatic Advisor Bertrand Besancenot, EUR/PDAS Kurt
Volker raised the SEEBRIG deployment to Afghanistan under
ISAF. The intial French reaction was positive, although our
interlocutors did not expand greatly on the French
perspective. Besancenot said deployment to Kabul would be
acceptable, given that France was also planning to increase
its troop commitments, as it prepared to take over the Kabul
command. Xavier Chatel, MFA desk officer covering
Afghanistan, observed that the SEEBRIG deployment was a good
idea and communicated GOF willingness to help.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON