FRANCE NOT INITIALLY ENCOURAGING ON RECEIVING GTMO

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001424 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2016 TAGS: PREL FR PTER PHUM PINR KAWC XG EUN SUBJECT: FRANCE NOT INITIALLY ENCOURAGING ON RECEIVING GTMO DETAINEES REF: A. STATE 36991 ¶B. STATE 37005 Classified By: A/DCM Thomas J. White for reasons 1.4 (B & D). ¶1. (C) POL Deputy delivered reftel demarches March 22 to MFA DAS-equivalent for Security Pierre Thenard and, following the meeting, provided ref B points March 23 as an aide memoire. Recalling the MFA's reaction to a U.S. approach several months ago to accept Uighers as "completely negative," Thenard offered no encouragement that the GOF position would produce a different outcome the second time round, although he agreed to discuss the U.S. request with his superiors. Thenard surmised correctly that the detainees were probably of low value, and wondered why they could not be settled in the United States. POL Deputy drew on reftel points to note ongoing court litigation. Thenard was non-committal on whether the GOF might agree to encourage other countries to accept refugees, although he pointed out that Burkino Fasa had once accepted individuals expelled by France. ¶2. (C) Post will seeking additional opportunities to discuss resettlement, including with FM Douste-Blazy's cabinet director, and will report further as soon as additional information becomes available. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON