SUDAN: FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002606 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL SU FR SUBJECT: SUDAN: FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON HUMANITARIAN ISSUES REF: STATE 59821 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b/d). (C) MFA DAS-equivalent for East Africa Helene Le Gal responded April 19 to reftel demarche, saying that the GOF considered favorably reftel points and that France, within an EU context, had already taken steps to approach the Sudanese Government in a similar vein. She explained that France is presently representing the EU presidency in Sudan (there is no Austrian mission in Khartoum),and, in that capacity, had pressed the Sudanese on the NGO law and the ejection of the Norwegian Refugee Council from South Darfur. She indicated that she would consider how the visa moratorium and SOFA issues might also be raised with the GOS. She noted, however, that to date, "we have not gotten much of a response" from the Sudanese on the NGO and NRC issues. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton