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