DEMARCHE REQUESTING THE FRENCH TO PRESS RUSSIA TO

UNCLAS PARIS 007151

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR ISN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP KTIA MNUC PARM PREL PHSA EWWT FR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUESTING THE FRENCH TO PRESS RUSSIA TO
SUPPORT SUA AMENDMENTS

REF: SECSTATE 163028


1. (SBU) On September 6, ESTH/NP officer delivered reftel
demarche urging France to press for Russian support to amend
the UN Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts
Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA),to French
MFA desk officer for Nuclear Nonproliferation, Sebastian
Jaunet. Jaunet promised to circulate the points to the
French inter-agency experts involved in SUA negotiations. At
Jaunet's request, on October 6, ESTH/NP officer met with him
at the MFA for a 'read-out' of the October 5 French demarche
to the Russian Embassy in Paris on the SUA topic. Jaunet
advised that during the French/Russian meeting the French had
sought to send two clear messages to the Russians regarding
SUA, namely: that the Russians should join consensus on the
SUA amendments and that they should not attempt to reopen
negotiations on the text. According to Jaunet, the French
explained to the Russians that any attempt to reopen the text
might lead to the unraveling of three years of work by
experts in preparing the amended text. The French reminded
the Russians that the arduous process of formulating the text
had been done in close coordination with their government,
and, subsequently, the Russians should not be surprised by
anything contained in the text.


2. (SBU) Jaunet characterized the Russian response as
"noncommittal." The Russians claimed that while Russian
legal experts had studied the text closely, the
nonproliferation experts in Moscow had not studied it in
depth, and no official guidance had been received from the
nonproliferation office on the Russian position. The
Russians added that they hoped to soon receive guidance, but
could not assure the French that there would not be some
"difficulties."

(3) (SBU) Jaunet promised to keep ESTH/NP officer apprised
of any further response from the Russian Embassy on the
matter. ESTH/NP thanked Jaunet for the French government's
cooperation on this issue of mutual concern.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON