Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS1735
2006-03-17 17:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRENCH ON MARCH 20 GAERC

Tags:  PREL ECON ETRD YI MW SR BK BO IR IZ SU FR EUN 
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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 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).

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