CHIRAC MEETING WITH QATARI AMIR FOCUSES ON IRAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000596

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/20/2016
TAGS: PREL QA IR SY LE KPAL FR
SUBJECT: CHIRAC MEETING WITH QATARI AMIR FOCUSES ON IRAN,
SYRIA/LEBANON, PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS

REF: PARIS 535

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Elysee contacts reported that President
Chirac's January 27 discussion with the visiting Qatari Amir
focused largely on Iran, with the Qatari leader stressing
concern over Iran's nuclear program and its negative regional
role. On Syria/Lebanon, Elysee contacts stressed that Chirac
sought to dissuade the Qatari Amir from believing the
illusion Syria could somehow be "separated" from Iran. The
French president also reiterated GoF opposition to the Saudi
initiative aimed at increasing coordination between Damascus
and Beirut. On Palestinian elections, the Qatari Emir viewed
Hamas' election victory as indicative of the growing Islamist
trend in the region, while Chirac reiterated that the new
Palestinian government should "choose peace," by renouncing
violence, recognizing Israel, and expressing support for
previous international accords. While Elysee contacts
anticipated that January 30 Quartet and EU GAERC meetings
would produce a unified line on what steps Hamas must take,
they concluded that it would take time to assess potential
impact on EU assistance to Palestinians, and cautioned that
the EU could not abandon the Palestinian people. End
summary.


IRAN
--------------


2. (C) In a brief readout provided to poloff January 30,
Presidential Advisor for the Middle East/Americas Dominique
Boche stressed that President Chirac's January 27 meeting
with Qatari Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani focused largely
on Iran. Boche described the Qatari leader as very worried
over Iran's nuclear program and Iran's negative role
throughout the region -- in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria in
particular. The Qatari leader expressed concern that recent
speeches by Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad echoed Arab public
sentiment and had the potential to appeal to "Sunni radical
fringe" in addition to Shi'a populations. Boche reported
that discussion did not address how Qatar would respond if
Iran were referred to the UNSC Council, but he conceded that
the GoF was seeking to intensify contact with Qatar to help
make it a constructive UNSC member. He concluded that the
Qataris wanted the West to remain firm with Iran and find a
peaceful solution to keep it from becoming a nuclear power,
in a way that did not put GCC states at risk. A GoF
communique issued after the meeting stressed President
Chirac's view that Iran "must conform to its obligations" and
that the February 2-3 IAEA BOG meeting would be an occasion
to remind Iran of these obligations.

SYRIA/LEBANON
--------------


3. (C) Boche commented that the Qatari Amir viewed Syria and
Lebanon within the context of his concerns about Iran and its
growing influence in the region. According to Boche, the
Amir was convinced of the "illusion" that Syria could somehow
be separated by Iran, and, for this reason, supported Saudi
initiatives to revive closer coordination between Damascus
and Beirut. Boche stressed that the GoF conveyed to the Amir
its "total opposition" to the Saudi initiative or any other
proposals to relieve Syria of its UNSC obligations or revive
its domination of Lebanon. Chirac similarly advised the Amir
that it was unrealistic to expect that Syria could be
"separated" from Iran, as Bashar al-Asad would never make
such a choice. Chirac stressed that any further Arab
initiatives on Syria/Lebanon should be on the basis of
Syria's existing UN obligations under UNSCR 1559 and
resolutions related to the Hariri assassination. The GoF did
not object to Arab initiatives aimed at restoring normal
diplomatic relations between the two countries or achieving
demarcation of borders, but Syria's UN obligations must be
the point of departure. Boche described the discussion on
Syria/Lebanon as constructive, with the Amir being measured
in his views. The GoF would continue to seek intensified
discussion with Qatar on Syria/Lebanon, particularly among UN
ambassadors in New York, to make Doha part of the "common
international front" in support of Lebanese
independence/sovereignty and insisting on full Syrian
compliance with its UN obligations.

PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS/ASSISTANCE
--------------


4. (C) Boche described the Qatari Amir as worried by Hamas'

surprise election victory, which the Amir viewed as part of a
rising Islamist trend throughout the region. An Elysee
communique issued after the Qatari meeting stressed President
Chirac's call for "the next Palestinian government to choose
peace, which comes by renouncing violence, recognizing
Israel, and respecting international accords. It is also in
this way that relations with the EU can be established."


5. (C) Boche described GOF public statements on the
Palestinian elections (reftel) as seeking to convey firmness
on conditions (renunciation of violence, recognition of
Israel, respecting international accords including Oslo)
which Hamas must meet in order for the new Palestinian
government to have contact with France and the rest of the
international community, an issue which the January 30 GAERC
and Quartet meetings should harmonize further. He viewed GoF
statements as consistent with those put forward by the U.S.,
which could help strengthen PA President Abbas' hand in
negotiations with Hamas on formation of the new PA
government. At the same time, Boche cautioned that it would
take more time for the GoF and the rest of the EU to
determine what impact a Hamas-led government would have on EU
assistance to Palestinians in general (not just the
Palestinian Authority). He concluded that even with an
absence in contact between the EU and the new Palestinian
government, the EU could not abandon the Palestinian people.



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

Stapleton