FRANCE ON JUNE 12 GAERC - RECOGNITION OF MONTENEGRO

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003922 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016 TAGS: PREL UN EUN YI MW SR BO IR IZ CU KPAL FR SUBJECT: FRANCE ON JUNE 12 GAERC - RECOGNITION OF MONTENEGRO REF: A. STATE 91167 ¶B. PARIS 3843 ¶C. USOSCE 237 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy will announce at the June 12-13 GAERC that France recognizes Montenegro, according to MFA CFSP deputy chief Pascal LeDeunff. He listed as the most important topics at the GAERC preparation of the June 20-21 U.S.-EU summit, Montenegro, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, and assistance to the Palestinians. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Poloff delivered ref A points to MFA CFSP deputy chief Pascal LeDeunff on June 6 and discussed them with him on June ¶9. ¶3. (C) U.S.-EU SUMMIT: LeDeunff said that as of June 9 afternoon French time, the GoF is much more satisfied with the draft joint declarations for the U.S.-EU Summit. Describing the draft language as short and striking, LeDeunff said it would continue to be the subject of negotiations, but would focus on the necessity of the U.S. and the EU together maintaining the capacity to manage the world's many crises. ¶4. (C) MONTENEGRO: LeDeunff noted French satisfaction that the Council conclusions will also include an invitation to member states to recognize sovereign Montenegro; he said FM Douste-Blazy will do so for the French on Monday. ¶5. (C) IRAQ: LeDeunff said the ministers would affirm EU support for the new Iraqi government; he noted the GoF's satisfaction with the political inclusivity demonstrated in the naming this week of the defense and interior ministers. The French see this as a positive step, LeDeunff stressed, which must continue. LeDeunff also said that the French will support the initiative of the Arab League to hold a conference in June or July. ¶6. (C) IRAN: EU CFSP High Rep Solana will present a report based on his presentation June 6 of the package to the Iranian government. The MFA noted that it is very important that international consensus be maintained on the approach to the Iranians; he emphasized that unity among the U.S., Russia, and China and the Europeans is the only way to make the Iranians "move." ¶7. (C) PALESTINIAN ASSISTANCE: LeDeunff said the Council will discuss the proposed temporary international assistance mechanism that the Quartet charged the EU with developing; he said that the Commission had been in contact with Washington earlier June 9 and that the two sides are close to a solution, although he did not specify what shape it might take. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON