Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS8461
2005-12-14 18:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

NON-COMMITTAL GOF RESPONSE ON WELCOMING IRAQI

Tags:  PREL EAID IZ FR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 008461 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2015
TAGS: PREL EAID IZ FR
SUBJECT: NON-COMMITTAL GOF RESPONSE ON WELCOMING IRAQI
ELECTIONS, INCREASING ASSISTANCE

REF: A. STATE 223612

B. STATE 220728

C. PARIS 8441

D. PARIS 8171

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 008461

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2015
TAGS: PREL EAID IZ FR
SUBJECT: NON-COMMITTAL GOF RESPONSE ON WELCOMING IRAQI
ELECTIONS, INCREASING ASSISTANCE

REF: A. STATE 223612

B. STATE 220728

C. PARIS 8441

D. PARIS 8171

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


1. (C) Summary and comment: The GoF and local Iraqi embassy
have no public events planned in conjunction with Iraq's
December 15 elections. GoF officials stress that the GoF
will wait and see how the elections unfold, paying particular
attention to voter participation levels, before pronouncing
on the issue. GoF officials remain evasive on the question
of increased French assistance to Iraq and continue to
highlight existing French assistance. The Iraqi embassy,
meanwhile, plans to close until December 19 so that mission
staff can participate in out-of-country voting outside
France. End summary and comment.


2. (C) Poloffs discussed ref a and b points with MFA
DAS-equivalent for Iraq/Iran/Arabian Gulf Affairs Antoine
Sivan and DAS-equivalent for NATO Nicolas Niemtchinow, urging
a positive public GoF response to Iraq's December 15
elections and stressing U.S. hope that France will
significantly increase its assistance to Iraq after this
historic vote. Sivan responded to the first point, without
addressing the latter question of new assistance. He
stressed that GoF had no public events planned and would
await the outcome of the December 15 vote before pronouncing
on the issue. The GoF hoped the elections would be marked by
high voter participation rates among all communities, and
that voting would take place in as "correct" a manner as
possible. Sivan took on board the suggestion of a call to
ITG President Talabani (ref a),but commented that such a
call would depart from traditional GoF practice, which would
be to congratulate the top officials (President and PM) of
Iraq's new government, once it is formed. Sivan also
stressed that while the December 15 election was an important
step, it was not the last step in Iraq's political process.


3. (C) Iraqi Ambassador to France Mouwafak Abboud informed us
December 14 that his embassy would be closing later in the
day and reopen on December 19, to give Iraqi staff the
opportunity to vote outside France. Abboud explained that he
felt compelled to give his staff the chance to vote, after
"being denied this right for 40 years." Abboud welcomed news
of our approaches to the GoF, and reiterated that after
December 15 elections, the GoF would have no excuse not to
engage further in Iraq. Abboud confirmed his mission had no
public events planned this week, but added that his embassy
had briefed French media on electoral prospects earlier this
week and planned further media outreach, including op-eds, in
coming weeks. He concluded, however, that it remained an
uphill battle to convince French media to focus on positive
aspects of Iraq's political transition.


4. (C) Comment: While the GoF has recently taken a more
constructive public line on Iraq, stressing the downside of a
precipitous U.S. withdrawal and shared international interest
in ensuring success in Iraq, this has not translated into new
assistance offers. In all of our recent approaches to the
GoF on assistance issues, including last week's visit by
Deputy Senior Iraq Coordinator Deutsch (ref c),GoF officials
have sought to play up existing French offers (such as Paris
Club debt relief and the French contribution to EU Iraq
funds) while remaining evasive on the subject of new aid.
End comment.

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

Stapleton