Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS6907
2006-10-19 17:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
TALABANI VISIT ON TRACK
how-tonull Lucia A Keegan 10/23/2006 10:33:25 AM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 06907 SIPDIS cxparis: ACTION: POL INFO: SCI AGR PAO AMB DAO ODC STRASBOU DCM FCS ORA UNESCO ECON DISSEMINATION: POLOUT CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: POL/MC:JROSENBLATT DRAFTED: POL:RWALLER CLEARED: POL/D:BTURNER VZCZCFRI467 OO RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHZL RUCNDT DE RUEHFR #6907 2921701 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191701Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2354 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0937
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006907
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/18/2016
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN ETRD FR IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: TALABANI VISIT ON TRACK
REF: A. (A) STATE 165112
B. (B) PARIS 6831
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006907
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/18/2016
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN ETRD FR IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: TALABANI VISIT ON TRACK
REF: A. (A) STATE 165112
B. (B) PARIS 6831
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On Oct. 19, PolMC briefed Iraqi Ambassador Mouaffak
Abboud on the results (reported Ref B) of our latest demarche
to the French on supporting the Iraq Compact. PolMC noted
that the UK Embassy delivered a similar demarche to the
French in mid-September and urged Abboud to also raise the
points mentioned in Ref A in his meetings with French
officials. Abboud agreed to do so, predicting that Talabani
would discuss French support of the Iraq Compact with
President Chirac, along with France's offer to train members
of the Iraqi security services, during his Nov. 2 visit to
Paris (which, as far as Abboud was concerned, was still on
track). Talabani will be accompanied by FM Zebari, Minister
of Industry Hariri, Minister of Education al-Khuzai, and
Minister of Science and Technology Jahid. Abboud did not
indicate that the French have promised movement on the
training offer or any other deliverables for the visit.
2. (C) Abboud estimated that France still holds approximately
4 million euros in frozen Iraqi assets, after setting aside
19 million euros worth of assets against commercial claims
from French firms. In addition, France has frozen control of
a villa in Cannes that Saddam Hussein's family purchased
through a Swiss front company for their personal use. Abboud
said he has repeatedly raised the release of these assets
with the MFA and the Ministry of Finance, and French
officials assured him last year that special legislation
authorizing the transfer of these assets to the Development
Fund for Iraq would be introduced in the National Assembly in
early 2006. The legislation was never introduced, and Abboud
has concluded that France "is not seriously trying to solve
the problem." While the sums involved are small, Abboud said
that return of the assets remains a matter of principle for
the Iraqis and indicated President Talabani might raise the
subject during his visit. Abboud complained that France is
not meeting its obligation to release all frozen assets
pursuant to UNSCR 1483.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/18/2016
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN ETRD FR IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: TALABANI VISIT ON TRACK
REF: A. (A) STATE 165112
B. (B) PARIS 6831
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On Oct. 19, PolMC briefed Iraqi Ambassador Mouaffak
Abboud on the results (reported Ref B) of our latest demarche
to the French on supporting the Iraq Compact. PolMC noted
that the UK Embassy delivered a similar demarche to the
French in mid-September and urged Abboud to also raise the
points mentioned in Ref A in his meetings with French
officials. Abboud agreed to do so, predicting that Talabani
would discuss French support of the Iraq Compact with
President Chirac, along with France's offer to train members
of the Iraqi security services, during his Nov. 2 visit to
Paris (which, as far as Abboud was concerned, was still on
track). Talabani will be accompanied by FM Zebari, Minister
of Industry Hariri, Minister of Education al-Khuzai, and
Minister of Science and Technology Jahid. Abboud did not
indicate that the French have promised movement on the
training offer or any other deliverables for the visit.
2. (C) Abboud estimated that France still holds approximately
4 million euros in frozen Iraqi assets, after setting aside
19 million euros worth of assets against commercial claims
from French firms. In addition, France has frozen control of
a villa in Cannes that Saddam Hussein's family purchased
through a Swiss front company for their personal use. Abboud
said he has repeatedly raised the release of these assets
with the MFA and the Ministry of Finance, and French
officials assured him last year that special legislation
authorizing the transfer of these assets to the Development
Fund for Iraq would be introduced in the National Assembly in
early 2006. The legislation was never introduced, and Abboud
has concluded that France "is not seriously trying to solve
the problem." While the sums involved are small, Abboud said
that return of the assets remains a matter of principle for
the Iraqis and indicated President Talabani might raise the
subject during his visit. Abboud complained that France is
not meeting its obligation to release all frozen assets
pursuant to UNSCR 1483.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON