IRAN/IAEA: FRANCE REMAINS FIRM ON REFERRAL OF IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000680 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2016 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL AORC EUN IR FR SUBJECT: IRAN/IAEA: FRANCE REMAINS FIRM ON REFERRAL OF IRAN TO UNSC, BUT OPEN TO COMPROMISE ON LANGUAGE FOR WMD FREE ZONE REF: STATE 017062 Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, REASON 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) On Feb 2, post delivered reftel demarche to Nicolas Roche, deputy to Francois Richier in the MFA's Strategic affairs and Disarmament office, as well as to the Political Director's special assistant. Embassy Polmiloff conveyed U.S. rejection of a proposed Egyptian amendment to the resolution on Iran tabled for February 2 special IAEA Board of Governors' meeting. ¶2. (C) Roche confirmed that the MFA was aware of the Egyptian proposal. He observed that the French objective for the BOG meeting was to obtain as wide a consensus as possible for a referral of Iran to the UNSC. It was understood that certain countries, such as Cuba and Venezuela, would likely not support a referral. He also noted that France continues to share the U.S. aim of stopping Iran's nuclear program and had been pleased with the agreement arrived at in London on January 30 that brought Russia and China closer to the U.S. and EU3 positions. ¶3. (C) According to Roche, France agrees with the U.S. that the Egyptian amendment proposal must not detract from our common aim of obtaining consensus for a referral. He added that it was important that Arab member countries join this consensus, and that the French delegation in Vienna had been instructed to remain open to compromise language, if it was needed to bring the Arab countries on board. Roche clarified the French approach by noting that France was open to compromise language referring to a WMD free zone, versus just a nuclear free zone. He emphasized that France plans to consult closely with the U.S. and others in Vienna on how best to handle the Egyptian amendment. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton