FRENCH CONFLICTED ON ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA, BUT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007885

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM FR VE
SUBJECT: FRENCH CONFLICTED ON ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA, BUT
UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT PARITY ON BAN

REF: A. STATE 207628


B. PARIS 7352

C. PARIS 7142

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


1. (S) Summary: Pol/MC and PolOff delivered reftel A points
November 16 to MFA A/S-equivalent Daniel Parfait,
DAS-equivalent for South America Michel Pinard, and Venezuela
desk officer Lionel Paradisi, and PolOff separately shared
points with Admiral de Monval, responsible for Latin American
issues in the MOD's Strategic Affairs department. The MFA
did not share our concerns about either the human rights
situation in Venezuela or Chavez's destabilizing activities
in the region. The MOD, while more open to our perspective,
indicated that GoF policy on this issue is being driven from
the President's office. Admiral de Monval indicated a French
submarine sale to Venezuela is under discussion. Parfait
requested assistance in setting up a meeting as soon as
feasible to meet with A/S Shannon to discuss Venezuela and
other WHA matters of mutual interest; such a meeting would be
an opportunity to share perspectives and information and, if
possible, narrow differences. End Summary.

Human Rights
--------------

2. (C) Parfait noted that prior to Chavez's recent visit to
Paris, he had met with the president of the Venezuelan NGO
Sumate as well as visiting Chief of Station in Caracas David
Fitzgerald in order to increase French dialogue on both sides
of the Venezuelan debate. The GoF has concluded for now
that, while not perfect, the human rights
situation is not as dire as the U.S. depicts it. Responding
specifically to freedom of the press and the media, Parfait
stated that there were daily calls for the assassination of
Chavez in the Venezuelan press -- and other declarations of
the kind that would be illegal in France. He also noted that
there were no journalists imprisoned in Venezuela. Parfait
claimed that during his conversation with the NGO Sumate,
that organization's president was unable to name any
political prisoners, nor provide a concrete example of "a
deteriorating human rights situation." Parfait did
acknowledge concern for potential abuse through property
expropriation, but otherwise seemed unconcerned with the
human rights situation in Venezuela, stating that France
still had not seen any "smoking gun."

Regional Instability
--------------

3. (C) Parfait equally downplayed the role Chavez might play
in destabilizing the region. He said that given Venezuela's
long and difficult-to-patrol border with Colombia, FARC
members are able to find refuge in Venezuela, as they do in
Brazil and Ecuador, allowing that the refuge might be
"voluntary." Parfait also admitted the possibility that
Chavez was providing money to Evo Morales in Bolivia,
although he had not seen evidence that the amount being
provided would be enough to tip the scales in an election.
He added that France was committed to seeing the upcoming
Bolivian elections held with as much transparency as
possible.

Threat of Arms
--------------

4. (S) Parfait hypothesized that Chavez's efforts in
securing arms and weapons were to satisfy his generals,
thereby insulating himself against additional coup attempts.
Parfait acknowledged the visit of the defense-related
delegation to Venezuela, but did not elaborate further. The
MFA has previously indicated that the possibility of
defense-related sales have been generally discussed in the
past, but that no specifics have been under negotiation and
that the issue was still being explored by the GoF (ref B).

MOD Opposes Arms Sales
--------------

5. (S) In a conversation with PolOff, MOD Admiral de Monval,
responsible for Latin American issues in the Strategic
Affairs department, welcomed being apprised of our new
approach not to transfer or sell lethal arms and munitions to
Venezuela. He noted that the MOD shared the U.S. position on
arms sales to that country. De Monval (protect) also
confided that the MOD had not been consulted on a proposed
sale of submarines (NFI) to Venezuela, which the Ministry
opposes. The MOD is seeking to influence the final
Presidential decision on this issue, but so far without
success.

Comment
--------------

6. (S) There is clearly a debate within the GoF on the sale
of military technology and arms to Venezuela. The MOD seems
more wary of Chavez and his intentions. However, the policy
appears to be driven by President Chirac, who is much more
open to increased cooperation with Venezuela, as evidenced by
the exceedingly warm welcome extended to Chavez during his
October visit (ref B). For its part, the MFA's long-held
complacency with regard to Venezuela remains unaltered. Post
judges it is unlikely that the French will refrain from
military sales to Venezuela, and may well go ahead with
proposed sales of submarines. End Comment.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton