FRENCH HEDGE ON COMPACT SIGNING EVENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001530 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/I FOR TAECKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/17/2017 TAGS: FR EAID EFIN EG IC PGOV PREL UN GCC EU SUBJECT: FRENCH HEDGE ON COMPACT SIGNING EVENT REF: A. STATE 47346 ¶B. STATE 50497 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered Reftel points to MFA Senior Iraq Desk Officer Bernard Chappedelaine on April 16. Chappedelaine noted that it might be difficult to secure French ministerial representation at the Compact signing event due to the French presidential elections; he predicted that the French would wait until shortly before the signing ceremony before finalizing their representational plans. (Note: French ministers are curbing their foreign travel during the election period, and FM Douste-Blazy is personally engaged in campaigning for Nicolas Sarkozy.) With respect to the EIB, Chappedelaine said the MFA would need to consult with the Finance Ministry before providing a substantive response. On technical assistance, Chappedelaine objected that France has already offered to train up to 150 Iraqi civil servants per year. Poloff countered that France should consider expanding its training program in order to demonstrate its support for Iraq and the Compact, and Chappedelaine reluctantly conceded that an expansion might be possible. ¶2. (C) On a more positive note, Chappedelaine said France may soon make a 500,000 euro donation to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees, in part so as to lessen the burden the refugees impose on neighboring states (in particular, Jordan). ¶3. (C) Post will also deliver reftel points at the earliest possibility to Jean-Pierre Guinhut, France's Inter-Ministerial Coordinator for Iraq reconstruction. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON