FRENCH AND AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007885 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2016 TAGS: PREL AF FR SUBJECT: FRENCH AND AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN CONTACT GROUP REF: A. PARIS POINT OF 12/21 ¶B. KABUL 5681 ¶C. GORDON/PALMER 12/20/06 E-MAIL Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary: Afghan Foreign Minister Ranjeen Dadfar Spanta reacted skeptically to the French proposal for an Afghanistan Contact Group during a meeting December 14 with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. Although Douste-Blazy tried to sell the group as an opportunity to rationalize and streamline various multilateral bureaucracies that he claimed often conduct reconstruction policy in parallel, Spanta viewed the French notion as little more than another potential opportunity for the international community to impose its will upon the Afghan people. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Afghan FM Ranjeen Dadfar Spanta met with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy December 14 in Paris to discuss, among other things, the French proposal for an Afghanistan "Contact Group." According to Sultan Bonyad, DCM at the Afghan embassy in Paris, Douste-Blazy explained that France wants to "assemble all security efforts under a single framework," with a maximum of 15 members. Douste-Blazy reportedly stated at the outset that Iran and Pakistan would not be included, at least, initially. Bonyad noted that Dr. Spanta expressed "great dissatisfaction" with the idea of the Contact Group, complaining that Afghanistan is already burdened with a plethora of institutions and talk shops, all of which believe they can tell the Afghan government what to do. Douste-Blazy allegedly countered that such overlapping bureaucracies are precisely why Afghanistan needs such a small, centralized framework. Ultimately, Spanta relented slightly, but also made clear that the GoA would consider the Contact Group only if Afghanistan could be assured of a clear and central role. (Spanta,s reported comments were consistent with ref A reporting on the GoA,s skepticism toward the "Contact Group" idea.) ¶3. (C) Otherwise, the interlocutors covered no new ground. According to Bonyad,s account, Spanta complained strenuously to Douste-Blazy that the "majority" of the Taliban insurgency and drug trafficking are the fault of Pakistan, and urged the MFA to exert pressure on Pakistan to eliminate terrorist camps along the border. Douste-Blazy did not commiserate as Spanta had hoped, according to Bonyad, saying instead that while France will continue to offer training to Afghan security forces, Afghanistan is ultimately responsible for its own internal security. When Spanta further complained of France's withdrawal of 200 Special Forces troops, Douste-Blazy said the GoF does not view military force as the only solution to Afghanistan's ills. While French troops will remain in Afghanistan under NATO/ISAF command, the GoF is also committed to aiding Afghanistan in the fields of health and education, he assured. ¶4. (C) Bonyad also related that Spanta urged the French to establish more academic exchanges for Afghan students and professors. Further, because few Afghan diplomats speak French, Spanta suggested that the MFA offer Afghanistan scholarships for language and diplomatic training at ENA (Ecole Nationale d'Administration). Bonyad did not elaborate on Douste-Blazy's response, if any. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm HOFMANN