FRENCH ON MARCH 20 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001735 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016 TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD YI MW SR BK BO IR IZ SU FR EUN SUBJECT: FRENCH ON MARCH 20 GAERC REF: A. STATE 39905 ¶B. PARIS 1700 Classified By: Political Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: French MFA officials spent much of March 17 helping plan the EU response to the summons received by EU and US Ambassadors in Minsk late March 16; the Austrian presidency will issue a statement holding Lukashenko alone responsible for any violence surrounding this weekend's presidential election. The MFA also noted that the GAERC will be tough on Iran, stressing the importance of quick and firm action by the UN Security Council. Following Lebanese PM Siniora's address to ministers, the GAERC will issue a conclusion supporting the Lebanese government in its efforts to push through democratic and economic reforms. Ministers will also discuss Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sudan, and the Congo. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Econoff delivered ref A points on WTO to Eric Peters, trade advisor to Trade Minister Cristine Lagarde; Gregoire Harel, EU trade officer at the MFA; and Cecile Mahe, General Secretariat of European Affairs (SGAE) at the Prime SIPDIS Minister's Office. Poloff delivered political points on March 14 to Pascal LeDeunff, deputy chief of the MFA's CFSP unit; and Caroline Ferrari, director of the MFA's enlargement office. WTO/DOHA ROUND -------------- ¶3. (U) Trade officials are in Brussels for 133 Committee meetings March 17. Trade Minister Lagarde will be in Brussels March 20-21 and will meet with other EU counterparts and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson for meetings on the EU approach in the WTO talks. BELARUS -------------- ¶4. (C) LeDeunff said the better part of his day had been taken in discussions about Belarus after the Belarusian FM had summoned the U.S. and EU Ambassadors late March 16 to state that "things would be bad" around this weekend's presidential election and that "the EU and the U.S. will take the blame;" further, he refused to let the Western ambassadors respond. LeDeunff said the EU Presidency would be issuing a statement from Vienna noting that Lukashenko alone would be held responsible for any violence. Separately, the Austrian Presidency will recommend a formal demarche to the Russias asking them to use their influence with Lukashenko to try to get him to moderate his position. LeDeunff said that the Europeans would seek fully to coordinate with the U.S. on this front. WESTERN BALKANS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) LeDeunff said there will be Council conclusions on Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia, in which the EU will continue to insist on their full cooperation with the ICTY as a condition of progressing with their stabilization and association agreement talks. IRAN -------------- ¶6. (C) "We will be tough here," said LeDeunff. The council would issue conclusions insisting that the UN Security Council take its first decisions quickly. The clock is ticking, he said, and Iran is using every moment to make technological advances. The U.S. and the EU must therefore be firm and quick, while maintaining the unity of the UNSC (i.e., China and Russia). LeDeunff said FM Douste-Blazy would underline that France, the UK, and the U.S. are working to that end, and that there will be a PolDirs meeting March 20 in New York. LeDeunff described Douste-Blazy as pleased that the conclusions on Iran will include language pressing Iran on human rights. IRAQ -------------- ¶7. (C) On Iraq, LeDeunff said, there is "nothing new" since the February GAERC. He said that the French continue to support the Arab League idea of a National Unity Conference and that the political process must continue. LEBANON -------------- ¶8. (C) LeDeunff underlined that the invitation to Lebanese PM Siniora to attend the meeting was a Franco-British initiative (see reftel B). He said Douste-Blazy will push for support for an international tribunal to try the assassins of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Douste-Blazy will also stress that UNSYG Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is the only interlocutor for the international community with the Syrians. In the conclusions, LeDeunff said, the ministers will express their support for the Lebanese government and its launching of a national dialogue; reaffirm support for UNIIC and Brammertz; and encourage the Lebanese government to continue reforms, including disarmament of militias. ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT -------------- ¶9. (C) LeDeunff started by saying there is "big trouble" in Israel and the Occupied Territories today. The difficulty is exacerbated by the violence on the ground, which the GAERC will deplore. He said the U.S. and EU need to continue to exchange views on how to avoid a collapse of the PA and the Palestinian economy. He stressed, however, that the French agree that they can not accept the transfer of money to a terrorist organization. SUDAN -------------- ¶10. (C) There will be a long discussion at lunch on Sudan, according to LeDeunff, especially regarding the AU decision to transition AMIS to a UN operation. Douste-Blazy will call on the EU to remain engaged in the crisis diplomatically, financially, and militarily. CONGO -------------- ¶11. (C) LeDeunff noted that the UN has asked the EU to constitute a force to intervene if necessary during the elections; Germany would address the issue, and France will state its support for the German position and confirm French participation in the force. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton