Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS5824
2006-08-30 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

CHIRAC/MERKEL FOCUS ON LEBANON, MIDDLE EAST;

Tags:  PREL FR EUN GE MARR MOPS PHUM XF 
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DE RUEHFR #5824/01 2421207
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301207Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0854
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0436
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005824 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016
TAGS: PREL FR EUN GE MARR MOPS PHUM XF
SUBJECT: CHIRAC/MERKEL FOCUS ON LEBANON, MIDDLE EAST;
EVOLVING FRENCH VIEWS ON TURKEY?

REF: PARIS 5811

Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005824

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016
TAGS: PREL FR EUN GE MARR MOPS PHUM XF
SUBJECT: CHIRAC/MERKEL FOCUS ON LEBANON, MIDDLE EAST;
EVOLVING FRENCH VIEWS ON TURKEY?

REF: PARIS 5811

Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).


1. (C) Summary: The August 25 informal Blaesheim meeting
between President Chirac and German chancellor Merkel and
their foreign ministers focused on Lebanon and the situation
in the Middle East. Merkel publicly supported France's
position on lifting the Israeli air/sea blockade of Lebanon,
with Germany pledged to coordinate closely with France on
contacts with Syria. Further discussion focused on Iran
(need to maintain Western unity),the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict (support the Quartet),and the DRC (EU operation
judged a success). On the EU, both sides rehearsed familiar
positions on the constitutional treaty and enlargement; of
note, however, the Germans profess to perceive a softening of
French attitudes toward Turkey as a result of its role in
Lebanon/UNIFIL (a shift which was not confirmed by our French
contact). Bilateral discussions focused on the October joint
ministerial meeting, where integration of minorities is to be
on the agenda. German FM Steinmeier participated August 28
in France's annual conference of ambassadors, with FM
Douste-Blazy planning to reciprocate the following week in
Berlin. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Deputy PolCouns met August 29 with German PolCouns
Gerhard Almer and French MFA DAS-equivalent for Central
Europe Christophe Leonzi for a briefing on the August 25
"Blaesheim-format" summit meeting between President Jacques
Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which also
included the participation of foreign ministers Douste-Blazy
and Steinmeier. Steinmeier also attended the August 28
session of the annual conclave of French ambassadors where
Chirac spoke (reftel) and delivered remarks that same
evening. Leonzi indicated that Douste-Blazy would
reciprocate by attending the German ambassadors' conference
the following week in Berlin. In a symbolic gesture, Chirac

and Merkel also laid a wreath at the foot of a statue of
Charles de Gaulle to celebrate the 62th anniversary of the
liberation of Paris.


3. (C) Almer reviewed the history of the Blaesheim format as
prelude to the briefing, recalling that "a new beginning" was
needed after the December 2000 EU summit talks in Nice under
the French presidency, where Chirac had pursued French
national interests to the detriment of EU consensus, ridding
roughshod over German desiderata in partticular. He
underlined the meetings' emphasis on holding informal
exchanges on topical issues, during which each country was
expected "put its cards on the table" on sensitive issues,
with the aim of allowing them to take their respective
interests into subsequent account when formulating policies.
The meetings are roughly timed, he said, to precede European
Council meetings. Almer recounted that Merkel had agreed
early to continue the meetings begun under her predecessor,
while highlighting her more "rational" (what the Germans call
"scientific") approach to the relationship, in which personal
sentiments were not a significant factor.

Lebanon
--------------

4. (C) Almer said discussions of Lebanon/UNIFIL were less
extensive than otherwise might have been the case, given
Chirac's August 24 television address announcing France's
decision to contribute another 1600 soldiers to UNIFIL
(beyond the 200 offered earlier, and in addition to the 200
already in UNIFIL). In response to a question about Merkel's
public support for France's demand that Israel lift its air
and sea blockade of Lebanon, Almer responded that Merkel had
taken this decision before her arrival in Paris and pointed
out that Merkel, rather than Chirac, had raised this issue
first during their joint press conference on August 25.
(Leonzi did not appear fully informed on this point.) As
Steinmeier also made clear in his August 28 remarks to French
ambassadors, Germany had offered to station ships offshore to
monitor arms smuggling as an alternative to the Israeli
blockade, but lifting the blockade was a precondition for
their deployment.

Syria
--------------

5. (C) Asked about the differing positions of Paris and
Berlin on engaging Syria, Almer responded that Steinmeier had
consulted with Douste-Blazy prior to his earlier, planned
visit. (Note: Steinmeier subsequently broke off the visit
in response to Syrian President Asad's aggressive public
remarks.) Almer claimed that Douste-Blazy was comfortable
with German attempts to engage Syria, notwithstanding
France's current policy of no dialogue. Steinmeier discussed
German intentions again August 28 with Douste-Blazy,

PARIS 00005824 002 OF 003


according to Almer, who said both sides had agreed that
German efforts should continue so long as this was on the
basis of a common position on expectations. (Leonzi was not
as specific, referring only to close coordination.) Germany,
said Almer, continued to believe that Syria retained a key
role in the region. Leonzi added that France wanted Syria to
play a constructive role in the region but did not at this
time have confidence that it was prepared to do so.

Iran
--------------

6. (C) Almer did not elaborate on the discussion of Iran,
except to note Germany's analysis that the Iranians were
attempting to drive wedges not only between the Europeans and
the U.S., or between Europe/U.S. and Russia/China, but also
among European countries. It was for this reason, he said,
that Tehran was not prepared to accept a visit by Solana.
Leonzi stressed the importance of maintaining Western unity
on Iran.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
--------------

7. (C) Almer said that France and Germany had agreed that
the Lebanon situation could only be resolved within the
framework of a political process that included dealing with
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asked whether France and
Germany were considering new initiatives, he affirmed that
the current focus was on a return to the Road Map and an
early meeting of the Quartet. Separately, he expressed some
concern about the stability of the Olmert government. Leonzi
had no comments.

Congo
--------------

8. (C) Almer said that Germany, while concerned about recent
unrest in the DRC following the elections, nonetheless judged
that the EU forces had played a useful role in keeping the
peace. Leonzi indicated that France played a key advisory
role with Germany and noted the challenge for Berlin of
managing public opinion.

Europe
--------------

9. (C) Asked about the EU-related discussions, Almer noted
that Germany accepted France's need to refer to the EU's
absorptive capacity in considering future enlargements,
although Berlin did not understand how this was to be
operationalized, since the criterion did not lend itself to
quantification. Germany, he said, did not want France to
take this new criterion too far, although Berlin understood
that Paris, for domestic consumption, needed reasons to be
able to claim that enlargement had been slowed down. He said
there was no significant discussion of European Union
institutions, although Chirac reiterated the need to do the
most possible within the framework of existing treaties.
Steinmeier, Almer said, stressed the importance of
resurrecting the substance of the failed constitutional
treaty but minus the word "constitution" and much of the
symbolism.

Turkey
--------------

10. (C) Almer said that Turkey's announced intention to
contribute forces to UNIFIL was leading to a greater
appreciation by France's of Turkey's strategic importance.
Steinmeier stated in his remarks to French ambassadors that
it was the EU's duty to make the Balkans part of Europe, and
for Turkey "to be close" to Europe. When Deputy PolCouns
responded that this sounded like less than a ringing
endorsement, Almer disagreed. Germany and France had earlier
been focused on what steps the EU would take, including
breaking off accession negotiations with Turkey, if, as
expected, Turkey did not implement by December the Ankara
Protocol on extending the EU-Turkey customs union to new
member states. Earlier, he stated, many of his French
interlocutors would have responded with "all the better."
After the August 25 discussions, however, Germany had the
impression that "something had changed" and that France would
now act more cautiously in view of Turkey's potential role in
Lebanon and influence in the region. At a minimum, he
speculated, France now would not want to close the door
completely on eventual accession. Leonzi offered no
encouragement that the French position had changed,
underlining only that pressure would mount on Turkey to
implement in full the Ankara Protocol on extending the
customs union.

Bilateral Issues
--------------


PARIS 00005824 003 OF 003



11. (C) Almert said the upcoming October joint ministerial
meeting would focus on integration and equality and would
include a meeting in Paris between the German and French
minister-delegates for minority issues (Minister-Delegate for
Equal Opportunity Azouz Begag on the French side). There
would also be an economic piece, although it was not yet
decided whether the focus would be on innovation, energy, or
some other issue.


12. (C) Asked if there were any plans to mark the end of
Chirac's term and his contribution to Franco-German
friendship, Almer said this was not the case. Citing
Schroeder's "personal" visit to Paris, with spouse, before
his departure, he said Germany would prefer to keep it
low-key. He had no information on possible French plans.


13. (C) Asked about German contacts with leading French
presidential contenders, Almer said Merkel already knew
Sarkozy in his capacity as President of a center-right sister
party. She would, however, await the designation of the
Socialist party's candidate before meeting with him or her.

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

STAPLETON