G8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP: NO RADICAL FRENCH RETHINKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001983 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KNNP CBW TRGY FR SUBJECT: G8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP: NO RADICAL FRENCH RETHINKING REF: STATE 60738 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, Reason 1 .4 B/D ¶1. (C) On May 10, we delivered reftel demarche to Philippe Errera, DAS-equivalent Director of the MFA's Nonproliferation and Disarmament bureau. In a follow-up conversation on May 15, Errera responded that, until the new French Government has been able to review the issue, he would be unable to make any commitments on the French approach. He nonetheless ventured that we should not expect any radical rethinking on Global Partnerships. Errera said he believes France will be sympathetic to an expansion in the number of donors and a broadening of its scope. By way of example, he noted that more could be done to deal with chemical threats. ¶2. (C) While praising the valuable progress made to date on Global Partnerships, Errera expressed concern with respect to our proposal to extend the financial and time commitment period for an additional 20 billion dollars and ten years to ¶2022. He questioned the need for this extension, as more could be done still within the existing budget. The G8 has had difficulties in spending the monies pledged to date, he added. Errera concluded his comments by re-emphasizing that France would be supportive of the Global Partnership. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON