Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS2083
2006-03-30 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH MFA OBJECTS TO CURTAILING NIGERIAN UNOCI
how-toVZCZCXYZ0032 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #2083 0891604 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301604Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5805 INFO RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN IMMEDIATE 0911 RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA IMMEDIATE 7199 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0695
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002083
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO LI IV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OBJECTS TO CURTAILING NIGERIAN UNOCI
DEPLOYMENT
REF: STATE 48450
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt.
Reasons 1.4b,d
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002083
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO LI IV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OBJECTS TO CURTAILING NIGERIAN UNOCI
DEPLOYMENT
REF: STATE 48450
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt.
Reasons 1.4b,d
1. (C) Africa Watcher shared current U.S. thinking on how to
reinforce the UN presence in both Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire
during a March 29 meeting with AF Acting DAS-Equivalent
Isabel Guisnel. Guisnel objected strongly to recalling the
Nigerian mechanized company on loan from UNMIL to UNOCI. SC
failure to extend the company's temporary Ivoirian deployment
would send the wrong signal, Guisnel argued. She highlighted
new militia threats against Ivoirian cabinet members. She
noted the Guiglo area's continuing insecurity and the risk
of militia recruitment there among Liberian renegades. She
observed moreover that PM Konan Banny, backed by the
International Working Group, was making real if modest
progress and it was vital to prevent any flare-up of
insecurity. Soro's March return to Abidjan was an important
step forward, she judged. The Nigerian company was making a
valuable contribution, both operationally and psychologically.
2. (C) Also problematic for France was the U.S. draft's call
to again extend the increase in UNMIL's personnel ceiling to
15,250 as had been agreed temporarily in paragraph 6 of
Resolution 1626 (2005). Guisnel claimed that the MFA had not
budgeted for the added costs.
3. (C) Guisnel welcomed indications that the U.S. would
consider an increase to UNOCI of up to 1,500 personnel
pending reconfiguration of other UN peacekeeping operations
in Africa, notably UNMEE. She remarked, however, that the
proposed reinforcements would still be smaller in number than
requested by the SYG.
Pending Personnel Turnover at MFA Africa Directorate
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Guisnel revealed that the summertime would bring
significant personnel changes in the MFA Africa Directorate.
The turnover was due to the usual cycle of rotations as
diplomats completed their domestic assignments, not to any
policy shake-up, she commented. Nonetheless, the changes
could be deep, including A/S-Equivalent Bruno Joubert,
PDAS-Equivalent Elisabeth Barbier, West Africa DAS-Equivalent
Bruno Foucher and East Africa DAS-Equivalent Remi Marechaux.
Guisnel, who is Foucher's deputy, will remain in place.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO LI IV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OBJECTS TO CURTAILING NIGERIAN UNOCI
DEPLOYMENT
REF: STATE 48450
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt.
Reasons 1.4b,d
1. (C) Africa Watcher shared current U.S. thinking on how to
reinforce the UN presence in both Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire
during a March 29 meeting with AF Acting DAS-Equivalent
Isabel Guisnel. Guisnel objected strongly to recalling the
Nigerian mechanized company on loan from UNMIL to UNOCI. SC
failure to extend the company's temporary Ivoirian deployment
would send the wrong signal, Guisnel argued. She highlighted
new militia threats against Ivoirian cabinet members. She
noted the Guiglo area's continuing insecurity and the risk
of militia recruitment there among Liberian renegades. She
observed moreover that PM Konan Banny, backed by the
International Working Group, was making real if modest
progress and it was vital to prevent any flare-up of
insecurity. Soro's March return to Abidjan was an important
step forward, she judged. The Nigerian company was making a
valuable contribution, both operationally and psychologically.
2. (C) Also problematic for France was the U.S. draft's call
to again extend the increase in UNMIL's personnel ceiling to
15,250 as had been agreed temporarily in paragraph 6 of
Resolution 1626 (2005). Guisnel claimed that the MFA had not
budgeted for the added costs.
3. (C) Guisnel welcomed indications that the U.S. would
consider an increase to UNOCI of up to 1,500 personnel
pending reconfiguration of other UN peacekeeping operations
in Africa, notably UNMEE. She remarked, however, that the
proposed reinforcements would still be smaller in number than
requested by the SYG.
Pending Personnel Turnover at MFA Africa Directorate
-------------- --------------
4. (SBU) Guisnel revealed that the summertime would bring
significant personnel changes in the MFA Africa Directorate.
The turnover was due to the usual cycle of rotations as
diplomats completed their domestic assignments, not to any
policy shake-up, she commented. Nonetheless, the changes
could be deep, including A/S-Equivalent Bruno Joubert,
PDAS-Equivalent Elisabeth Barbier, West Africa DAS-Equivalent
Bruno Foucher and East Africa DAS-Equivalent Remi Marechaux.
Guisnel, who is Foucher's deputy, will remain in place.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton