FRANCE REPORTEDLY WILLING TO HOST AFGHAN DONOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 004208 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2017 TAGS: EFIN MARR PGOV PREL SNAR AF SUBJECT: FRANCE REPORTEDLY WILLING TO HOST AFGHAN DONOR CONFERENCE Classified By: Acting DCM Bruce Rogers, Reasons 1.4 b & d ¶1. (C) Foreign Minister Spanta relayed to the Ambassador December 26 French Foreign Minister Kouchner's willingness to host an Afghan donor conference in May or June. On December 22, during President Sarkozy's one-day visit to Kabul, Spanta had inquired of Kouchner about France's interest in hosting the conference. Spanta expects France to confirm formally in writing its role as host. He described the Sarkozy visit as "excellent." ¶2. (SBU) French Charge d'Affaires Jean-Francois Fitou echoed that assessment when discussing the visit with Acting POLMILCOUNS. He confirmed media reports that Sarkozy, Kouchner and Defense Minister Morin had met with President Karzai and COMISAF General McNeill, and had visited French troops stationed in Kabul. ¶3. (C) Fitou listed Sarkozy's goals as reaffirming French support for the Afghan government and signaling France's unreserved willingness to contribute fully as a member of "the international team." Fitou said Sarkozy is considering increasing France's role in Afghanistan's stabilization and reconstruction. He then speculated that France might increase its development aid, offer more training to the Afghan National Security Forces, field its own Provincial Reconstruction Team or even augment the nearly 2000 French troops in theater. Fitou believes Sarkozy will unveil specific proposals to enhance France's role in Afghanistan at the April NATO Bucharest Summit. ¶4. (C) Before he can commit additional French troops or resources to Afghanistan, said Fitou, Sarkozy must convince the French people that failure in Afghanistan would seriously impact their vital interests. According to the Charge, Sarkozy was making that argument to his citizenry when he asserted in his speech to French troops that they are on the frontline in the battle against world terrorism and the global trade in illicit narcotics. Fitou noted that French receptivity to Sarkozy's argument will be tempered by the knowledge that France has already lost nearly two dozen soldiers killed in Afghanistan. WOOD