ARMS TRADE TREATY: FRANCE VIEWS IT AS A GOOD

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007394 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/CATR; PM/DTC, AND EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL EIND ETTC KTIA FR SUBJECT: ARMS TRADE TREATY: FRANCE VIEWS IT AS A GOOD START, URGES U.S. ENGAGEMENT REF: EMAIL WESTLING-GORDON 11/8/06 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary: In an informal discussion, an MFA DAS-equivalent contact expressed qualified support for the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT),even though France believes such a treaty, to be acceptable to all, would be initially weaker than the strong export control regimes already in place in both the United States and France. The ATT should be viewed as a potential first step toward constraining countries with minimal control regimes. Participating nations could influence and contribute to the development of more effective measures at the UN. The GOF supports the ATT, out of solidarity with the UK, and in deference to strong pressure from NGOs and an international public horrified by the effects of small arms in conflict zones. Our MFA contact viewed the ATT as a complement to existing export control regimes and urged the United States to engage the future UN group of governmental experts (GGE) in negotiating the ATT. U.S. influence could only strengthen the treaty, we were told. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Poloffs met November 14 with Camille Grand, DAS-equivalent in the MFA Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons and Conventional Arms, to discuss informally the MFA's thinking on an international Arms Trade Treaty (reftel). Grand explained that while France has joined others in voting for the resolution, the GoF continues to share the U.S. goal of promoting still tighter export controls that limit the destabilizing trade in illegal arms. ¶3. (C) Grand characterized the difference between the U.S. and French approaches as more tactical than substantive: In addition to wishing to support the UK on this initiative, France perceived an "international mood" -- fueled by strong pressure from NGOs, Nobel Prize winners and others -- in favor of UN action, and deemed it best not to oppose a measure viewed by the public at large as a means to curb violence in conflict zones. He did not dispute the U.S. view that an ATT, to garner widespread support from major arms exporters, would necessarily be weaker than the "self-restraining" measures that the U.S. and France already used. But, he said the GoF believes the ATT should be viewed as an "idealistic" point of departure -- a universal norm that would impose modest limitations on even the most intractable arms traffickers and would "moralize" the debate by drawing attention to those states and entities that transfer arms illicitly to conflict zones. ¶4. (C) In terms of the big picture, Grand said France views the ATT as only one initiative among many, and hopes it would complement other more immediate and concrete efforts to curb illicit weapons transfers, such as Wassenaar, or EU and OSCE activities. He was quick to note that the ATT -- which he characterized as years from representing a meaningful international standard -- cannot be a substitute for stronger and more specific measures. ¶5. (C) Grand asserted that an ATT need not be contrary to the national interests of major arms exporting nations. He noted that arms exports play a major role in French foreign and economic policy. "We have no intention of asking the U.N. for permission to sell a plane," he said. ¶6. (C) Grand urged the USG to participate in the group of governmental experts that will study the feasibility of negotiating an ATT and develop specific programs for the inclusion in the treaty. As the leading arms exporter, the U.S. could offer both expertise and credibility, and the U.S.'s own tight export controls could serve as an example for an effective ATT, he added. Grand said that he looked forward to consulting with Washington as U.S. views on the ATT evolved. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON