FRENCH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON MEHLIS REPORT: FM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007305

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV SY LE FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON MEHLIS REPORT: FM
ATTENDANCE LIKELY OCTOBER 31, BUT NOT CONFIRMED

REF: STATE 196400

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) We briefed senior MFA officials on the U.S. demarche
to UNSC capitals on the Mehlis report (reftel) October 25,
urging the participation of French FM Douste-Blazy at the
October 31 UNSC ministerial. French MFA IO A/S-equivalent
Jean-Maurice Ripert suggested to visiting IO A/S Kristin
Silverberg during an October 25 meeting (septel) that FM
Douste-Blazy would likely attend the October 31 ministerial,
as long as it was clear that the ministerial could adopt a
resolution. On the proposed French-U.S.-UK draft UNSCR,
Ripert focused on the need for "justice," unanimity, and the
importance of keeping UNSCR's 1559 and 1595 separate. Ripert
emphasized that FM Douste-Blazy would offer a more definitive
GoF response during an expected telcon with Secretary Rice
later that afternoon.


2. (C) In a separate October 25 discussion with poloff, MFA
DAS-equivalent for Egypt/Levant Herve Besancenot welcomed
news of the U.S. demarche to UNSC capitals and expressed
general agreement with reftel points. He observed that the
U.S. approaches to Russia and Algeria would be of particular
importance. Besancenot noted that FM Douste-Blazy had not
yet announced his participation at the October 31
ministerial, though the FM had already confirmed publicly his
readiness to attend a ministerial in principle, "at the
opportune moment."


3. (C) While the GoF supported the idea of a ministerial
vote, Besancenot said there was a potential U.S.-GoF
disagreement over what happened immediately after the October
31 ministerial; he asserted that the GoF did not favor having
UNSC ministers attend a follow-on October 31 briefing on the
Larsen report on 1559 implementation, as some U.S. officials
had suggested to the French embassy in Washington.
Besancenot reiterated the importance, in the GoF view, of
keeping UNSCR's 1595 and 1559 separate and sequenced, while
avoiding any impression that the response to the Mehlis
report was politically motivated against Syria. He also
expressed hope that the U.S. and France could also avoid
divergence on the issue of unanimity, with the GoF remaining
insistent on the need for a firm UNSCR which would attract
unanimous Council support. Besancenot noted that the GoF did
not want to repeat the example of UNSCR 1559, which was
adopted by the minimum nine "yes" votes.


4. (U) The MFA spokesman, when asked mid-day October 25 about
Douste-Blazy's participation in the U.S.-proposed October 31
UNSC ministerial, did not respond directly to the question.
The spokesman noted that the FM was open in principle to the
idea of a ministerial, but added that no date had been
confirmed. The spokesman added that we will see whether
October 31 is the "opportune moment" for such a ministerial.


5. (U) A/S Silverberg departed before clearing this cable.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON