Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS2273
2006-04-06 16:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRANCE RESIGNED ON PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN

Tags:  PREL FR EUN CASC RO 
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VZCZCXRO4740
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHFR #2273 0961643
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 061643Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6051
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002273 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016
TAGS: PREL FR EUN CASC RO
SUBJECT: FRANCE RESIGNED ON PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN
ROMANIA

REF: A. STATE 43700


B. BUCHAREST 536

Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002273

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016
TAGS: PREL FR EUN CASC RO
SUBJECT: FRANCE RESIGNED ON PENDING ADOPTION CASES IN
ROMANIA

REF: A. STATE 43700


B. BUCHAREST 536

Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).


1. (C) Deputy PolCouns discussed reftel points March 28 with
MFA European Affairs desk officer (filling in for an absent
Romania desk officer) Virginie Bioteau March 28, who
requested and received a copy of talking points for the
purpose of coordinating an informed MFA response. She
understood clearly the gist of our request to press the
Romanian government on pending adoption cases in the absence
of EC Commission willingness to do so. Deputy PolCouns noted
that Romanian adoptions was a subject of growing discussion
in the European Parliament and that French MPs were also
becoming engaged.


2. (C) During a subsequent discussions on April 3, Bioteau
informed us that the French MFA had received a letter from a
French adoption association and was in the process of
preparing a response that was currently being vetted in the
office of the foreign minister. She undertook to get back to
us following a definition of the GOF position through this
vehicle. Bioteau commented that FM Douste-Blazy has been
reluctant to criticize openly the Romanian adoption
legislation it had been passed in connection with Romania's
EU accession negotiations. That said, she assured us,
Douste-Blazy had attempted to persuade Romanian officials to
study the pending cases.


3. (C) Deputy PolCouns made further inquires on April 4 and
6, using the latter occasion to inform Bioteau of our receipt
of ref B. Bioteau indicated that the GOF -- either through
its Embassy in Bucharest or in Paris -- had received a
similar letter. In a subsequent discussion with acting
DAS-equivalent Marine de Carne de Trecesson de Coetlogon,
Carne expressed French disappointment with the Romanian
decision (which she said would also be a bitter
disappointment for French adoption associations) but said
that there was little France could do. The Commission would
be making its final recommendations on Romanian EU accession
within the next month, and Romania wanted to be able to
demonstrate its rigor and responsiveness to the EU,
especially in the areas of trafficking and corruption. The
problem for France, given these EU requirements, was that the
"EU could not afford to be in contradiction with itself."
That said, France had, most recently in the person of
Cooperation Minister Girardin, raised the issue informally
with Romanian authorities.


4. (C) Per ref B, Deputy PolCouns asked whether France had
confidence in the explanation provided by Romania. Carne
responded that the decisions appeared in conformity with the
law and appeared to have the interests of the children in
mind. She suggested that the situation in Romania itself had
changed in recent years, with the results that families were
now prepared to welcome back children they had formerly
relinquished. Deputy PolCouns noted Amembassy Bucharest's
concerns about the transparency of the Working Group process.
Carne agreed that there could be more transparency. Deputy
PolCouns concluded with the observation that the U.S. would
be considering next steps and that he looked forward to
future discussions of the issue.

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

Stapleton