FRENCH DEMARCHING UNSC MEMBERS ON CHAPTER VII

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002113 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/17/2017 TAGS: FR LE UNSC PREL PTER SUBJECT: FRENCH DEMARCHING UNSC MEMBERS ON CHAPTER VII REF: STATE 70478 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Per reftel instructions, we informed the MFA's Selena Grenet (IO action officer for the Middle East) and Jean-Christophe Auge (Syria/Lebanon desk officer) that we are in the process of demarching at high levels other UNSC members in capitals. Grenet said the French are engaged in the same exercise, and were also demarching Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Arab League for good measure. She said that the response in Panama had been "good" and that of Brussels was "excellent." She suggested that the U.S. especially focus its efforts on Italy, Panama, Peru, Ghana and Congo. She noted that FM Kouchner was expected to call Italian FM Massimo D'Alema to press for Italian support, while the Elysee's diplomatic cell would reach out to the Congolese. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON