Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS3453
2006-05-23 10:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH SHARE USG CONCERNS ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0026 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #3453 1431044 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231044Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7689 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5301 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0370
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003453
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PBTS PREL RU GG OSCE PGOV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH SHARE USG CONCERNS ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN
SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: STATE 80908
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR BRUCE TURNER, FOR REASONS 1.4
B/D
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003453
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PBTS PREL RU GG OSCE PGOV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH SHARE USG CONCERNS ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN
SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: STATE 80908
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR BRUCE TURNER, FOR REASONS 1.4
B/D
1. (C) On May 22, poloff delivered reftel demarche on Russian
activities in South Ossetia to Aurelia Bouchez, the MFA's
DAS-equivalent for Russia and the former Soviet space, and
Marie Dumoulin, Georgia desk officer. Dumoulin said on May
23 that France shares our "preoccupation" with Russian
interference in Georgia. She said France has been especially
concerned by the difficulties OSCE monitors have faced in
carrying out their mandated mission. France has raised its
concerns in this matter with Russia, said Dumoulin. She also
thanked poloff for other examples of Russian interference
contained in the demarche, saying France had not been aware
of them.
2. (C) Dumoulin said France and the EU routinely raise South
Ossetia and Abhkazia with the Russian government during
periodic consultations. However, the Russian response is
"very firm" and furthermore, said Dumoulin, "it is like
talking to a wall." The EU will likely take the lead (as
opposed to bilateral consultations) in raising South Ossetia
and Abhkazia with Russia, said Dumoulin, because of the more
frequent high-level EU-Russia meetings. (Comment: Left
unsaid was the fact that high-level EU officials are also
more likely to agree to raise such difficult issues with
Russia, whereas high-level French officials prefer to focus
on items that do not involve criticism of Russian actions.
End comment.)
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
HOFMANN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2016
TAGS: PBTS PREL RU GG OSCE PGOV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH SHARE USG CONCERNS ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN
SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: STATE 80908
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR BRUCE TURNER, FOR REASONS 1.4
B/D
1. (C) On May 22, poloff delivered reftel demarche on Russian
activities in South Ossetia to Aurelia Bouchez, the MFA's
DAS-equivalent for Russia and the former Soviet space, and
Marie Dumoulin, Georgia desk officer. Dumoulin said on May
23 that France shares our "preoccupation" with Russian
interference in Georgia. She said France has been especially
concerned by the difficulties OSCE monitors have faced in
carrying out their mandated mission. France has raised its
concerns in this matter with Russia, said Dumoulin. She also
thanked poloff for other examples of Russian interference
contained in the demarche, saying France had not been aware
of them.
2. (C) Dumoulin said France and the EU routinely raise South
Ossetia and Abhkazia with the Russian government during
periodic consultations. However, the Russian response is
"very firm" and furthermore, said Dumoulin, "it is like
talking to a wall." The EU will likely take the lead (as
opposed to bilateral consultations) in raising South Ossetia
and Abhkazia with Russia, said Dumoulin, because of the more
frequent high-level EU-Russia meetings. (Comment: Left
unsaid was the fact that high-level EU officials are also
more likely to agree to raise such difficult issues with
Russia, whereas high-level French officials prefer to focus
on items that do not involve criticism of Russian actions.
End comment.)
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
HOFMANN