FRANCE PLANS LIMITED REACTION TO AHMADI-NEJAD'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003501 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL FR SUBJECT: FRANCE PLANS LIMITED REACTION TO AHMADI-NEJAD'S PRESENCE AT THE SCO SUMMIT REF: STATE 81622 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR BRUCE TURNER, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) On May 23, poloffs delivered to MFA officials reftel demarche on the implications of Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's attendance at the June SCO summit in Shanghai. Aurelia Bouchez, the MFA's DAS-equivalent for Russia and the former Soviet space, told poloff that France did not plan on demarching all SCO members on this issue, but was nonetheless concerned about Ahmadi-Nejad's attendance. Depending on the evolution of Ahmadi-Nejad's schedule, France would consider demarching select members, including Russia, to express concern about giving the Iranian President a public platform. Nevertheless, Bouchez expressed doubt that SCO members would react positively to such a demarche, given that Iran has only observer status within the SCO. ¶2. (C) Reftel demarche was also delivered to MFA DAS-equivalent for South Asia, Anne Grillo-Nebout, and desk officer for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Cyril Gerardon. Gerardon said that he and Grillo-Nebout would share and discuss the points with MFA officials responsible for Iran and China in determining if and how it would approach South Asian SCO members. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm EARLE