Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS719
2006-02-03 10:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

EMBASSY PARIS SUBMISSION TO THE 2005/2006 REPORT

Tags:  PREL MARR MCAP FR 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 PARIS 000719

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR PM/SNA, EUR/WE; OSD FOR OSD/PA&E, OASD/ISA/EUR,
OASD/ISA/NP, OASD/ISA/AP, OASD/ISA/NESA AND OASD/ISA/BTF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP FR
SUBJECT: EMBASSY PARIS SUBMISSION TO THE 2005/2006 REPORT
TO CONGRESS ON ALLIED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMON DEFENSE

REF: A. STATE 223383

B. PARIS 000005


This message is sensitive but unclassified. Not for
Internet dissemination.

Due to its length, this is part two of a three part message


40. (U) In Africa, France has provided 80 million euros to
Darfur through the African Union and provides support to
Chad on a bilateral basis. The French transported the
Senegalese units of the AU force to Sudan and the Nigerian
police contingent. (See paragraph 72 for more detail).


41. (U) In response to natural disasters in 2004 and 2005
France contributed substantially to Pakistan Earthquake
relief efforts, the South Asian Tsunami relief efforts, and
relief efforts after hurricane Katrina hit the southern
United States. (See paragraphs 73-81 for more detail).


42. (U) The major part of France's efforts at capacity
building in the world is focused on Africa where France
relies on its forces stationed in seven nations to conduct
most of its capacity building operations (see paragraphs
82-85 for more detail). Also, 4000 French troops stand
alongside UNOCI in Operation Licorne in Cote d'Ivoire in
support of the UN operation, in addition to the French
permanent base in Abidjan.


43. (U) French Gendarmerie has taken the lead in the
development of the European Gendarmerie Force. French
Gendarmes are also deployed in Lebanon (UNIFIL),Haiti
(MINUSTAH),Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Chad, and the Central Africa Republic. They
also conducted training in Kinshasa, Kenya (see paragraphs
86-89 for more detail).


44. (U) In the summer of 2004, the French also began a
joint fighter pilot training school in Cazeaux, France (see
paragraph 90 for more detail).


45. (U) As a nuclear state, France endorses deterrence
theory and holds to long-standing NATO doctrines. It has
consistently supported international arms control regimes
as a means of bolstering stability and transparency. In
addition to its continued support for international
mechanisms to limit proliferation, France with their
British and German colleagues pursued EU3 negotiations to

obtain Iranian compliance with Iran's Safeguard Agreement
commitments. EU3 efforts led to the signing of the Paris
Agreement in November 2004. Iranian resumption of
conversion in August 2005, and research on enrichment in
December 2005, led to suspension of Paris Agreement
discussions. France and its EU partners, with U.S.
support, continue to pursue efforts to convince Iran to
suspend its nuclear ambitions. (See paragraphs 91-93 for
more detail).


46. (U) The French military continues to maintain strong
contacts with the U.S. and other NATO countries for
contingency planning. During 2004 and 2005, France
conducted planning and exchanges with EUCOM and CENTCOM.
French and U.S. analysts and planners share information on
terrorism and WMD proliferation as well as political-
military developments. From the beginning of operations in
Afghanistan (both OEF and ISAF),and the Lebanon crisis,
French and U.S. planners have continued to work together to
produce effective, timely results. French forces
permanently or temporarily stationed in Africa and Central
Asia have assisted U.S. operations in the EUCOM and CENTCOM
theater of operations.


--------------
--------------
REF A PARAS 9-10: DIRECT COST-SHARING
--------------
--------------


47. (U) No direct cost sharing activities occur in France



--------------
--------------
REF A PARA 11: INDIRECT COST SHARING
--------------
--------------

48. (U) No indirect cost-sharing activities as described
in Ref A paragraph 11 occur in France. However the U.S.
did receive several types of miscellaneous indirect cost-
sharing benefits from France as described below.


Overflight Clearances, Port Access, Use of French
Facilities
-------------- --------------


49. (U) In 2004, France granted overflight and landing
clearances to 1842 USG missions. 977 of these missions
were in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 76 of these
missions supported operations in the Balkans. During 2005,
France granted 2061 overflight and landing clearances to
USG missions. 811 of these missions supported OIF while 68
supported Balkan operations. France continued to grant
blanket overflight clearances to most USG missions allowing
over flights of and landings in France without notice.


50. (U) The 744 Expeditionary Air Base Group operated
three KC-135 tanker aircraft from Istres Airbase in
southern France during most of 2004. This group of 100 US
military personnel flew air refueling missions supporting
operations in the Balkans. The French provided fuel tax-
free. The mission ended in December 2004.


51. (U) Tax concessions on fuel and landing fees for non-
operational missions during 2004 totaled approximately 4000
dollars. During 2005 these concessions totaled 8450
dollars.


52. (U) During 2004 the US Navy made 14 port calls to
facilities in metropolitan France. In 2005 the number of
port calls was 29. In all cases, the French Navy provided
excellent support and force protection services without
cost. Additionally, no taxes were imposed for supplies or
parts for US ships visiting French ports.


-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------
REF A PARA 12 RECENT CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, MILITARY
ASSISTANCE, HUMANITARIAN RELIEF OPERATIONS, CAPACITY
BUILDING, COUNTERPROLIFERATION, AND NUCLEAR THREAT
REDUCTION
-------------- --------------
-------------- --------------

-------------- --------------
Subparagraph A: Recent Contingency operations (See French
Force Disposition and External Operations Table for
personnel numbers)
-------------- --------------


53. (U) The French were among the first nations to
volunteer troops to the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan and France continues to
be responsible for Kabul International Airport and the area
north of Kabul to the U.S. base at Bagram. A French
battalion has been a part of ISAF since December 2001.
From August 2004 to February 2005, a French general
commanded the NATO-led ISAF. France has proposed an
increased role in ISAF and offered to lead Regional
Command-Kabul as part of the NATO reorganization and
expansion of ISAF. In October 2005, France and Turkey
announced that they would co-lead Regional Command-Kabul.
The French are planning to augment their forces from the
current 700 in ISAF to between 1,000 - 1,200 personnel to
support the increased responsibilities of the regional
command to include providing a Quick Reaction Force (QRF)
battalion. The French have continued to provide a military
police detachment in support of ISAF.


54. (U) Supporting OEF, the French Armed Forces continue
to be actively involved in the fight against terrorism.
200 members of the French Special Forces are currently
deployed in the South of Afghanistan alongside U.S. Special
Forces in military operations against the Taliban.

55. (U) France assigned liaison officers to the U.S. staff
headquarters in Tampa to ensure the interface between the
military authorities of the two countries. French forces
were directly involved in the fight against terrorism by
carrying out the following missions:


56. (U) The air and sea group took part in air operations
above Afghanistan in April-May 2004 (84 aircrafts were
involved in operational missions for 450 flight hours).
The French Air Force deployed within less than 48 hours six
Mirage 2000D and two refueling aircraft from metropolitan
France to the deployable airbase in Manas (Kyrgyzstan)
which played a key role in the prosecution of air
campaigns.


57. (U) In addition, two C160 airplanes with 130 soldiers
of the Air Force have been operating in Dushanbe
(Tajikistan) since December 3, 2001, totaling 10,000 flight
hours. This detachment is focused on airlifting the French
Forces operating in different areas in Afghanistan.


58. (U) In October 2004, three Mirage F1CR and one tanker
C135FR were deployed in Dushanbe to carry out tactical
reconnaissance missions for ISAF and the coalition against
terrorism. To help promote the development of democracy in
Afghanistan in close collaboration with its allies, the
French Air Force again deployed an air detachment in
Dushanbe, from August through November 2005 during the
parliamentary elections. Within ISAF, the detachment,
which includes three Mirage F1CR, three Mirage 2000D and
two tankers C135FR based in Manas, was intended to
establish an air presence throughout the country and
support ground forces operations to deter any action likely
to disrupt the elections. It was also entrusted with the
mission to undertake reconnaissance and fire support
operations supporting OEF.


59. Finally, the French military participates in the fight
against terrorism within the OEF Task Force 150 (TF 150).
The Task Force is actively involved in the following
operations:
- monitoring air and sea movements in the Red Sea, the Sea
of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf,
- prohibiting the filtration of terrorists to the Arabian
Peninsula or the Horn of Africa,
- fighting against illegal trafficking (weapons, drugs
etc.),
- fighting against piracy and banditry acts.


60. (U) Since February 2003, a EUROMARFOR task group is
part of the TF 150 and operates under the command of the
U.S. staff. The French Navy greatly contributes to the TF
150 (about a quarter of the Task Force) with three ships
operating on a permanent basis. France took command of TF
150 twice from September 2003 to January 2004 and from June
to September 2004.


61. (U) An aircraft based in Djibouti, which was
incorporated into the Task Force 57 (TF 57),is intended to
patrol in coordination with the TF 150 ships. The 62
French ships involved in Operation Enduring Freedom since
15 December 2001 totaled more than 6,000 days at sea.


62. (U) The French Navy's strong participation in CTF-150,
both by continuously providing ships and often providing a
command staff in the Indian Ocean, particularly off of
Somalia and the Gulf of Oman, and the presence of French
Navy liaison personnel at NAVCENT Headquarters in Bahrain
makes possible a good degree of interaction and cooperation
in this key region. The French also maintain maritime
patrol aircraft worldwide and cooperate with the U.S. Navy
where there is common interest.


63. (U) The French also participate in the US Counter-Drug
effort with Naval Forces. A French military officer is
assigned to the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF
South) in Key West, to ensure coordination with French
forces in the Caribbean. Fort-de-France in Martinique
supports U.S. Navy and Coast Guard units with port visits
and the Navy Command in Fort-de-France has assisted the
U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard with the movement of
personnel and weapons between various ships and aircraft.
The direct participation of the French Navy in counter-drug
operations consists of the deployment of frigates to the
region to work with U.S. forces on a regular basis and the
use of Maritime Patrol Aircraft deployed to the region.


64. (U) In 2004, the French Navy stopped three drug
trafficking ships in the Antilles and one TOGOlese ship in
the Gulf of Guinea with 450 kg of cocaine. The counter
drug effort of the French Navy in 2004 was 199 days at sea,
156 hours of flight, 2058 ships queried, four ships
intercepted, and 1020 kg of drugs ceased.

65. (U) In 2004, the French Navy effort against
clandestine immigration equaled 683 days at sea, 904 flight
hours, three ships intercepted, 43 clandestine immigrants
turned over to border police.


--------------
Subparagraph B. Military Assistance:
NRF/NTMI/Afghanistan/NATO PKO.
-------------- --------------


66. (U) The French Army has been training the Afghan
National Army within the overall U.S.-led program since its
inception. Since 2002, the French have trained more than
2,000 Afghans. This includes three of the initial
battalions; they have set-up the officer basic course and
the staff officer's course. The French are currently
participating in the Embedded Training Team concept with
French Army soldiers assigned to mentor an Afghan battalion
in Kandahar.


67. (U) The French have consistently expressed a desire to
be part of NATO's transformation and interoperability
initiatives as evidenced by their significant national
contributions to the NATO Response Force (NRF). By
participating in NRFs 1 through 6, the total French
military contribution equals up to 40 percent of ground
units, 30 percent of air assets, and 20 percent of naval
capabilities. The French air force provides the deployable
combined air operations center (CAOC) for the European led
NRF. In January 2005, the French air force conducted AIREX
2005, a training exercise, to prepare for command of NRF-05
in July. On July 1st, the French air force became the Joint
Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC) of NRF-05 for six
months. In 2004, NATO sent the NRF's Land Component
Command Headquarters, the French led EUROCORPS, to lead the
ISAF in Afghanistan. As part of NRF 5, NATO activated
France's Joint Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC) to
coordinate the air movements for the Pakistan earthquake
relief effort. On 1 October 2005, the French formally
created a multinational headquarters to serve as the Land
Component Command for future rotations of the NRF.


68. (U) In 2005, the French also established a Maritime
Component Command HQ to serve in future iterations of
NATO's NRF. The French Navy successfully stood-up the
High-Readiness Force - Maritime (HRF-M) staff in Toulon and
qualified the staff during an at-sea exercise in 2005.
This staff, will serve its rotational duties as an on-call
force, ahead of schedule, and is being used by the French
for out-of-area operations, for example, during the
upcoming Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean deployment of the Charles
de Gaulle Carrier Battle Group in early 2006. There is one
U.S. Naval Officer assigned to the HRF-M staff.


69. (U) The French government has forbidden its military
from contributing troops to the NATO training mission
inside Iraq (NTM-1). One French officer is working on the
training mission staff at SHAPE Headquarters in Belgium,
and the GoF pledged 660,000 euros in February 2005 to help
finance NTM-1. In 2005, the GoF took initial steps to
contribute to the development of Iraqi defense and security
capabilities. Under the European Union's EUJUSTLEX
program, France has pledged to train 200 Iraqi police
officials and judges in rule of law training in France,
making France the top EU contributor to this program.
Approximately 40 Iraqi police officials (non-military)
completed month-long training at the Ecole Nationale
Superieure des Officiers de Police and the Ecole Nationale
de Police in 2005. A third course started at the end of
2005 for judicial instruction at the Ecole Nationale de la
Magistrature. At the same time, a French offer to train up
to 1,500 Iraqi paramilitary police (gendarmes) outside Iraq
remains unimplemented, although an Iraqi Ministry of
Interior delegation visited France in July 2005 to further
discuss the proposal. Currently there is a single Gendarme
Officer in Iraq, responsible for provision of security for
French embassy staff in Baghdad.


70. (U) In the Balkans, French forces remain among the
largest contributors to operations in Kosovo. French
participation in the former NATO SFOR mission in Bosnia
continued under the EU Force, Operation Althea. 210
Gendarmes supported both the United Nations Interim mission
in Kosovo and the NATO Intervention Forces in Kosovo.
French Lieutenant General de Kermabon transferred authority
as COMKFOR on 1 September 2005 after one year of command,
the second time France has commanded KFOR. The French
government provided approximately 60 gendarmes, including
20 officers to help combat organized crime under the Office
of the High Representative in Bosnia-Hersegovina.
Additionally, they provided European Union Police and
military police in support of European Union Forces in
Bosnia.


71. (U) The French continue to maintain a small French
military presence (15 personnel) in Macedonia providing
international police in support of the European Police
Mission. They also provide a small presence force (three
military observers) in Georgia to help support the U.N.
monitoring mission.


72. (U) Regarding peacekeeping efforts in Africa, there
has been ongoing debate as to NATO's role in Africa. This
debate was most evident during the 2005 crisis in Darfur
with France focusing its support for the AU through the EU.
France, however, honored its pledge to SECSTATE that it
would not oppose a NATO role in the crisis. France has
provided 80 million euros to Darfur through the African
Union and provides support to Chad on a bilateral basis.
French troops and aircraft are conducting ground and air
border security. During 2005, France provided refueling
support to NATO and EU aircraft at Abech?in Eastern Chad,
as well as personnel recovery capabilities using three C-
160 transport aircraft and three Puma helicopters. The
French transported the Senegalese units of the AU force to
Sudan and the Nigerian police contingent.

--------------
Subpara C: Humanitarian Relief Operations
NATOHMRO/Pakistan/Katrina/Tsunami
--------------


73. (U) In 2003, France allotted 9.3 million euros (USD
11.2 million) to what it termed Emergency Humanitarian
Assistance, all of which was channeled through the
Emergency Humanitarian Aid Fund of the MFA. In 2004, the
initial allotment was 9.3 million euros (USD 11.2 million).
The fund may be increased on an extraordinary basis to
finance unexpected operations; this was the case in 2005,
when France announced an emergency increased allotment of
2.8 million euros (USD 3.4 million) in favor of the victims
of natural disasters or civil crises, primarily focused on
the victims of the tsunami in Thailand, Sri Lanka,
Maldives, Indonesia, and India, and an additional
allocation of 5.6 million euros (USD 6.7 million) for the
victims of the earthquake in Pakistan (see paragraphs
below). The additional aid is imputed into the 2005
balance sheet bringing the total amount of emergency
donations to 16,147,081 million euros. Allotments in 2006
are projected to increase to benefit victims of 2005's
Hurricane Katrina in the United States. For an economic
analysis of general Grant Aid and Humanitarian Assistance
see paragraphs 117-221.


74. (U) Pakistan Relief. The French contributed 82
military personnel to the Pakistan relief effort. In
addition, the French air force deployed two C-130 Hercules
military transport aircraft to deliver relief supplies. The
effort included medical service personnel, a surgical team,
and support personnel (communications, equipment, and
logistics) in Pakistan. Forty-six of the military
personnel were inserted into the various NATO elements in
Islamabad, Lisbon, Germany, and Turkey. Additionally, as
part of NRF 5, NATO activated France's JFACC to coordinate
the air movement piece of the relief effort. The JFACC at
Taverney, near Paris has 23 French, five UK, and one U.S.
officer assigned.


75. (U) KATRINA Relief. The NRF was activated in
September 2005 after hurricane Katrina. At the same time,
France used its Joint Forces Air Component (JFACC) to task
the French Air Force to collect and deliver the 150 tons of
European supplies for Louisiana. This support was
delivered to Ramstein airbase, Germany. The French air
force also provided two transport aircraft to move over
four tons of supplies, including tents, tarps, and 1000
rations, to the US from the Caribbean. Along with these
supplies, the French provided a team of four civil security
personnel to help assess future U.S. needs and distribute
assistance. Two French liaison officers were posted to the
Joint Forces Commander in Lisbon to help coordinate all
European assistance. An Airbus Beluga aircraft also
delivered 12.7 tons of emergency equipment to Mobile,
Alabama;


76. (U) The French Navy deployed a team of 17 Navy divers
to assist with the Katrina disaster. This was facilitated
by the fact that the French maintain a liaison officer with
the U.S. Mine Warfare Command in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The 17 French divers worked from September 11, 2005 to
October 8, 2005 helping to clear waterways of debris and
recover vessels.


77. (U) The GOF also offered the following contributions
to assist with Katrina disaster recovery:
--The "Gendarmerie nationale" offered experts in forensic
police;
--The GOF (with Airbus) offered to send an additional 20-
30,000 food rations.


78. (U) Tsunami Relief. The French Navy worked with U.S.
forces and other willing partners following the December
26, 2004 Tsunami in South East Asia. In response to this
disaster, the French Navy re-routed its helicopter carrier,
Jeanne D'Arc, and, after picking up extra emergency
supplies from the French base in Djibouti, sent the units
into the disaster region. By February 1, there were 1,390
French Military personnel assisting in the disaster area,
most aboard the three ships involved. The French
Helicopter Carrier, Jeanne D'Arc, and the Destroyer George
Leygues DD-644 deployed to Indonesia on January 4 until
February 9 while the Destroyer Dupleix DD-641 deployed to
the Maldives from January 5 until February 1, 2005. The
Jeanne D'Arc supplemented the normal on-board complement of
helicopters with an additional two heavy-lift helicopters.
Embarked were 12 medical doctors and support personnel.


79. (U) There was one French Maritime Patrol Aircraft
deployed to Thailand from January 1, 2005 that worked in
cooperation with the U.S. Navy P-3 aircraft. One
additional French Maritime Patrol Aircraft deployed to Sri
Lanka from December 30, 2004 to January 1, 2005.