DETAINEE RESETTLEMENT INFORMATION ON FRANCE EXPAT

S E C R E T PARIS 001885 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AMBASSADOR CLINT WILLIAMSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017 TAGS: PTER PINR FR SUBJECT: DETAINEE RESETTLEMENT INFORMATION ON FRANCE EXPAT COMMUNITIES AND POST POC REF: STATE 54924 Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) John L. Espinoza is Paris Embassy Point of Contact for detainee issues. He can be contacted by classified email at EspinozaJL@state.sgov.gov, by unclassified email at EspinozaJohnL@state.gov, and by phone at 33(0)1-43-12-25-75. -------------- RELEVANT EXPATRIATE COMMUNITIES -------------- ¶2. (U) France hosts significant expatriate communities from Egypt and Mauritania, which retain strong ties with their origins. Populations composed of foreign nationals and naturalized French citizens total approximately 16,000 Egyptians and 8,000 Mauritanians. In addition to a sizeable Egyptian population exists there is a strong institutional network promoting Egyptian society and culture in France. Mauritania, granted independence from France less than 50 years ago, still maintains close colonial ties. ¶3. (U) Uzbek, Somali, Palestinian, Sudanese, and Chinese Uighur expatriate communities in France are all relatively small (under 1,000 each). The Uzbek and Somali presence primarily consists of students studying at French universities. Palestinian and Sudanese expatriates in France are largely refugees or political asylum-seekers, with a small community of students. Palestinians are supported by the presence of numerous NGOs and advocacy groups, which grant their small community a disproportionally large amount of visibility and influence. -------------- COLONIAL TIES -------------- ¶4. (U) The French government maintains extensive cultural and political ties to many of its former colonies and well as other francophone countries. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (S) While France is host to significant Egyptian and Mauritanian populations, it is unlikely to change its position opposing resettlement of detainees in France. French authorities are aware that several young French jihadists, who sought to fight in Iraq or Afghanistan, attended extremist schools in Egypt. As a result of the existing link between French jihadists and Egypt, officials are unlikely to accept any proposal that would involve bringing potentially radical Egyptians to France. French counterterrorism authorities are also very concerned about flourishing GSPC camps in Mauritania and will want to prevent the possibility of taking in extremists who may have or will develop ties to GSPC or al-Qaida. The six French detainees transferred to France in 2003 will all face trial in December ¶2007. Five of them are no longer in custody after spending a year in French jails. END COMMENT Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON