THE FRENCH ARE STILL DELIBERATING ON ENGAGING

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002195 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR GG FR NATO SUBJECT: THE FRENCH ARE STILL DELIBERATING ON ENGAGING GEORGIA IN INTENSIFIED DIALOGUE REF: STATE 51994 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, Reason 1 .4 B/D ¶1. (C) Using reftel points, pol/mil officer sought on April 3 MFA support for NATO to begin Intensified Dialogue on Membership Questions with Georgia. MFA DAS-equivalent director for NATO/ESDP issues, Nicolas Niemtchinow, received our points, but declined any substantive comment, indicating that French political leaders had not come to any final conclusions on next steps for Georgia. He confirmed that the MFA would keep us informed as a position evolves. ¶2. (C) During EUR A/S Fried's March 31 consultations with MFA Political Director Stanislas de Laboulaye and A/S-equivalent Director for Strategic Affairs Philippe Carre, they indicated that France, in formulating its final position, would want to take into account possible Russian reactions to closer ties with Georgia (septel). Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton