FRANCE: AUSTRALIA GROUP MEMBERSHIP FOR RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002405

SIPDIS

PASS TO ISN/CB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2031
TAGS: PARM PREL RS FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: AUSTRALIA GROUP MEMBERSHIP FOR RUSSIA
DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: SECSTATE 54784

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: ESTH COUNSELOR ROBERT DRY FOR REASONS 1.4
(C, D AND H)

(C) Embassy ESTH officer delivered demarche contained in
REFTEL to Frederic Jung, responsible for biological
disarmament at the French MFA, on April 12 2006. Mr. Jung
thanked the U.S. for informing France of its concerns about
Russia using the G8 to support its agenda of admission to the
AG. France shares U.S. concern, but has not taken a position
on whether this matter should be taken up within the context
of the G8. France follows the EU position, which is that all
factors concerning Russia's admission to the AG should be
considered. At the Director's Group meeting in Moscow
tomorrow, the French representative reportedly will have
instructions only to the effect that the EU has already
replied to Russia's request to join the AG. However, MFA
will provide the French representative with the context of
U.S. demarche so that the French representative is aware of
U.S. position.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

Stapleton