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.

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RELEVANT EXPATRIATE COMMUNITIES
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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.

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COLONIAL TIES
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4. (U) The French government maintains extensive cultural
and political ties to many of its former colonies and well as
other francophone countries.

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COMMENT
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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