FRANCE FAVORS LIBERIAN SANCTIONS RENEWAL

UNCLAS PARIS 008454 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EAID PREL ETRD ETTC LI FR UNSC SUBJECT: FRANCE FAVORS LIBERIAN SANCTIONS RENEWAL REF: SECSTATE 220004 (SBU) Clement Leclerc, IO Desk Officer for African Affairs, confirmed December 14 that France favored extending both timber and diamond sanctions for Liberia. He recalled a December 5 conversation with poloff in which he conveyed that France, while inclined to the extension of timber sanctions, would be guided by the recommendations of the UN Panel of Experts. Leclerc now underscored that not only had the Panel called for renewal, but the Liberian President-elect herself had endorsed both continuing and additional economic controls in a meeting with the Panel. Leclerc stated that the French delegation had made known its position in New York. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton