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