IRAQ: GOF REACTION TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007397

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2015
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ FR
SUBJECT: IRAQ: GOF REACTION TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

REF: A. STATE 199224


B. CAIRO 8244

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, FOR REAS
ONS 1.4 B/D


1. (C) We delivered ref A statement October 28 to Bernard
Chappedelaine, the MFA's Iraq desk officer, and also asked
him if France would not consider any additional bilateral
programs for Iraq, given the approval of the referendum on
the constitution. Chappedelaine raised the long-standing
French gendarme offer, but did not offer any additional
suggestions. He said France was interested in the new Arab
League initiative (ref B) and had heard that Secretary
General Amr Moussa's recent trip to Iraq was positive. An
informal translation of the MFA's press statement is at para

2.


2. (U) Informal translation of MFA Press Statement (October
26, 2005):

"Following the publication of the October 15 referendum
results by the Iraqi independent electoral commission, we
applaud the active participation of Iraqis in this vote,
which led to the approval of the constitution.

The Iraqi political process should continue, in accordance
with resolution 1546, with the holding of legislative
elections on December 15. It is essential that the
mobilization of the electorate, which occurred for the
referendum, lead to a true national dialogue that includes
all members of Iraqi society. The next steps will
necessitate more than ever the gathering together of all
efforts, inside and outside Iraq, in order to bring peace and
stability to this country and to guarantee its sovereignty
and unity."
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Hofmann