Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS1706
2006-03-17 09:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF VISITS

Tags:  PREL PGOV LI FR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2387
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHFR #1706/01 0760914
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 170914Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5291
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001706 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV LI FR
SUBJECT: LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF VISITS
PARIS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001706

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV LI FR
SUBJECT: LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF VISITS
PARIS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno
Foucher on March 13 described Liberia President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf's March 7-10 official visit to France as a
success. France's primary interest in supporting
Johnson-Sirleaf and stability in Liberia is to promote
stability in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire. France intends by
the end of 2006 to re-establish an official diplomatic
presence in Liberia and to implement assistance programs now
under consideration. Foucher said that France was
comfortable with plans underway to transfer Charles Taylor
from Nigeria via Sierra Leone to the Hague for prosecution.
During her visit, Johnson-Sirleaf met with a range of
government and business leaders. She was the featured
speaker at French think-tank IFRI on March 9, where she
presented her plans to jumpstart development in her war-torn
country. END SUMMARY.

LIBERIA IS IMPORTANT TO FRANCE BECAUSE OF COTE D'IVOIRE


2. (C) MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher on
March 13 discussed Liberian President Johnson-Sirleaf's
official visit to France the previous week. He said the
visit occurred after President Chirac invited Johnson-Sirleaf
to France at the December 2005 France-Africa Summit in Mali
soon after her election. Foucher was quite blunt in stating
that France's primary interest in Liberia related to Cote
d'Ivoire. Liberia's political stability and economic
viability were of strategic importance to France because of
its border with Cote d'Ivoire. Instability in Liberia,
Foucher said, contributed to problems in Cote d'Ivoire,
especially in the volatile western region of the country. It
was therefore in France's interest to support efforts for
political stability and economic development in Liberia in
order to minimize spill-over effects into Cote d'Ivoire.


3. (C) Johnson-Sirleaf met with several of France's most
senior leaders, including Chirac, the presidents of the
Senate and National Assembly, Cooperation Minister-Delegate
Girardin, and a number of business leaders. During her
meeting with Chirac, Johnson-Sirleaf asked how France could

help Liberia. Chirac reportedly expressed his wish for
France "to participate in the development and stability of
Liberia." He proposed specifically a public health project
to build health clinics to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Besides basic humanitarian aid, the French also presented a
project aimed at cultural development and exchange, including
an augmented French-language study program. This program,
Foucher noted, would allow for improved relations between
Anglophone Liberia and Francophone Cote d'Ivoire, hopefully
leading to enhanced security cooperation and border control,
increased trade, and stronger diplomatic ties.


4. (SBU) Johnson-Sirleaf's meeting with FM Douste-Blaze
included a dinner. During his lengthy toast, Douste-Blazy
praised her personal achievements and those of her country,
noting the historic significance of her election as the first
woman president of Africa's first independent nation, and
underlined France's interest in supporting peace, stability,
and economic development in Liberia. He described
Johnson-Sirleaf's election as the first African female head
of state as "doubly historic," as it also symbolically marked
the end of Liberia's devastating civil war. He described
Liberia as "a new model of peace and progress" in Africa,
demonstrating the ability of an African country to emerge
from the quagmire of civil war and begin moving along the
path of democracy and prosperity. The French FM concluded by
emphasizing that "today, more than ever, the African
continent is a priority" of French foreign policy and that
France would seek to further stability, security, and
development in Liberia through "an approach founded on mutual
interest." Many prominent business leaders were present at
the dinner and were able to make the acquaintance of
Johnson-Sirleaf and members of her party.

FRANCE TO ENHANCE PRESENCE IN LIBERIA


5. (C) Foucher said that France hoped to establish a full
diplomatic presence in Liberia by the end of 2006. France
had evacuated its diplomatic mission in 1990 and formally
closed it in 1996. Most recently, France was represented by
one honorary consul, but a second honorary consul was now in
place. Foucher did not know if an ambassador would be named
when France reopens its mission or if it would operate with a
charge d'affaires. Foucher said it would be difficult to
manage the assistance programs now under consideration
without a permanent official presence in Liberia, which was
one reason the French wanted to re-open their mission this
year. Foucher commented that Chirac disliked "laptop" (i.e.,

PARIS 00001706 002 OF 002


itinerant) ambassadors who visit from time to time but who do
not get much done.

CHARLES TAYLOR


6. (C) On the issue of justice for former Liberian
President Charles Taylor, Foucher stated that France had no
problem with his prosecution as long as Nigeria accepted his
transfer to Sierra Leone and then to the Hague for
prosecution. Foucher said he believed the UNSC would act
favorably on this plan soon. However, Foucher expressed his
concern that a push by Johnson-Sirleaf to bring Taylor to
justice could lead to instability in Liberia and problems for
her personally, as several of Taylor's allies still retained
influence in Liberia, including in its parliament.

LIBERIAN PRESIDENT PRESENTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN AT IFRI
CONFERENCE


7. (U) In a March 9 speech at the prestigious French
Institute of International Relations (IFRI),Johnson-Sirleaf
presented her plan to move her war-torn country towards
political stability and economic development. Xavier de
Villepin, former president of the French Senate,s Foreign
Affairs Committee (and father of current Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin),presided over the conference.


8. (U) Johnson-Sirleaf said that "Liberia can indeed become
a success story in Africa," escaping its tumultuous past with
a development approach focused on the reconciliation of
Liberia,s disparate groups, peace in the West African
region, economic growth, infrastructure improvement, and the
restoration of economic credibility. As the first
democratically elected president of her country,
Johnson-Sirleaf said she understood that Liberian
expectations were high, and her plan thus emphasized tangible
results. Her proposed package, called the "150-Day
Deliverables," would seek to make a visible difference in
Liberians, lives through vast improvements to the
infrastructure, a restructuring of the military and security
forces, and improved local governance.


9. (U) Audience questions involved repatriation issues,
justice for Charles Taylor, women,s rights, education, and
the monetary and fiscal dilemmas facing the country. The
heart of the discussion centered on the role of the donor
community in aiding Liberia. Johnson-Sirleaf emphasized that
sustained help over the long term was necessary to put her
country on the track of stable economic growth, but she
encouraged donors to participate in her "150-Day
Deliverables" program to jumpstart development, stressing
that Liberian expectations -- and thus the nation,s
stability -- were tied to its successful implementation.



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

Stapleton