FRANCE SUPPORTS WITH RESERVATIONS NATO'S MIDDLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002684

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/RPM EVA SHINAGEL, USNATO FOR PETER CHISHOLM,
DOD/OSD FOR DAVID DES ROCHES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: MARR PREL FR NATO
SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTS WITH RESERVATIONS NATO'S MIDDLE
EAST SECURITY COOPERATION CENTER

REF: STATE 63202

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Bruce Turner, Reason 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: On April 24, French MFA officials stated that
France supported the establishment of NATO's Middle East
Security Cooperation Center (SCC) in principle, although they
have serious concerns that it not draw resources away from
existing NATO operations/programs, and believe that the
program content should stay focused on NATO's military
competencies. France is also keen that the SCC have a
minimal footprint in the region. France supports Germany's
incremental approach of calling on existing NATO schools and
PfP training centers, and using mobile training teams, in the
run-up to the Riga summit. The suggestion was also made by
the GOF that NATO consider making the SCC available to other
institutions, such as OSCE, the EU, or the UN. The GOF
cautioned, however, that France was not supportive of NATO
links with African training centers at this time, arguing
that France and other Europeans are already engaged on
regional programs, such as the French RECAMP initiative, and
that there was no need for duplication. End summary.


2. (C) Poloff raised with Nicolas Niemtchinow, MFA
DAS-equivalent Director for NATO, reftel points on support
for the Middle East Security Cooperation Center (SCC).
Niemtchinow said France supported the SCC as a summit
deliverable, as well as the German incremental approach that
NATO draw on existing NATO schools and PfP training centers,
while also deploying mobile training teams, in the interim.


3. (C) Niemtchinow said that he had raised the SCC with MFA
decision-makers following his earlier discussions with EUR
PDAS Volker in Washington, and that the reaction had been
generally positive. France looked forward to further
discussions on setting up the SCC. At the same time, France
believed it was important that the SCC's aims and development
be "realistic." When pressed for details, Niemtchinow said
further discussions were necessary in order to discuss the
following concerns:

-- The SCC should not draw resources away from existing NATO
programs and operations, hence its funding mechanism would be
key;

-- The SCC's local "footprint" should be kept discreet by
ensuring that host nations retain ownership of the centers --
it was important to avoid a heavy NATO presence, which would
also add to security concerns and costs;

-- NATO might want to consider expanding and
internationalizing the SCC by opening up its training
facilities for the use of other international organizations,
such as the OSCE, the EU or the UN, in their respective
fields of competency;

-- Lastly, it was important that the SCC's program content
accurately reflect NATO's strengths. Looking at our
non-paper, Niemtchinow said defense planning, budgeting, and
multi-national peace operations were most appropriate.
However, several countries, including France, preferred to
conduct other programs, such as counter-terrorism training,
bilaterally.


4. (C) In response to poloff's queries, Niemtchinow said that
France might consider sending trainers, but likely would not
send French students to the SCC, as the French military
already participated in several bilateral programs in the
region, which focused on language and area studies. He also
cautioned that host governments and NATO would have to
discuss how to deal with the personal security of NATO
trainers, as well as who would bear responsibility for these
security expenditures.


5. (C) Niemtchinow said that France was less keen on
supporting the establishment of formal training links between
NATO and appropriate African training centers, at least until
after the Riga summit. French aims for the region remained
reinforcing local ownership of issues by strengthening
African capacities, including those of the African Union, to
manage regional crises. A secondary consideration, according
to Niemtchinow, was that several European countries, such as
the UK and France, as well as the EU, already were at work on
projects in the region. France, for instance, has been
pursuing the RECAMP program with the British and would not
wish to transfer resources to a NATO program, given its
15-year investment in RECAMP.


6. (C) As requested reftel, prior to meeting with
Niemtchinow, poloff contacted Paris-based Italian and
Norwegian embassy representatives. While both embassies were
aware of the SCC proposal, neither had received instructions
from their capitals. Accordingly, poloff briefed them on the
substance of our planned demarche.


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

Stapleton