FRENCH MFA ANTICIPATES DONATION TO OAS ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002928 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS TO OAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016 TAGS: PREL OAS KDEM PGOV FR GY SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA ANTICIPATES DONATION TO OAS ELECTION EFFORTS IN GUYANA REF: STATE 65841 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche May 4 to MFA Guyana Desk Officer Eric Amblard, who indicated that the GoF was troubled by the growing violence, instability, and likely electoral delays in Guyana. According to Amblard, the precarious situation was a driving force in Guyanese immigration through Surinam to the overseas department of French Guiana, making the situation both an internal and external French concern. ¶2. (C) Because the decision to donate funds to OAS efforts in Guyana must be thoroughly vetted by all actors within the French government, Amblard could not provide a definitive commitment; however, given the breadth of support from both the MFA and Overseas Ministry, he anticipated that some form of contribution would be forthcoming. ¶3. (C) Amblard pledged to pass our concerns to the French Permanent Mission to the OAS, which is responsible for coordinating any such contributions. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton