Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS7394
2006-11-15 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
ARMS TRADE TREATY: FRANCE VIEWS IT AS A GOOD
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #7394/01 3191526 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151526Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3122 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 6441 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6323 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 2472 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 1443 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1817 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 3203 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0999
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.
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
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