Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS2137
2007-05-23 15:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
CLUSTER MUNITIONS: FRANCE PROPOSES PUSH IN CCW
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #2137 1431548 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231548Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7546 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1714 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 1495 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0658 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2500 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: MARR PARM PGOV PREL NATO FR
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS: FRANCE PROPOSES PUSH IN CCW
CONTEXT
REF: A) STATE 66596 B) PARIS 1312
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, for reas
ons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: MARR PARM PGOV PREL NATO FR
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS: FRANCE PROPOSES PUSH IN CCW
CONTEXT
REF: A) STATE 66596 B) PARIS 1312
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, for reas
ons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY. The French MFA shares the U.S. view that
negotiations on cluster munitions cannot proceed productively
outside the Convention on Chemical Weapons. To slow the
growing political momentum behind the Norwegian push to ban
cluster munitions, like-minded nations that seek a compromise
between humanitarian concerns and military necessity must
produce a viable alternative proposal, Camille Grand,
DAS-equivalent for Chemical and Biological Disarmament and
Conventional Weapons Control at the MFA, told us May 22.
Towards that end, Grand proposes to invite the U.S. and other
like-minded nations to a meeting of technical experts in
Paris the week of June 11. He further requested that each
country circulate a white paper for discussion the week of
June 4. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) Poloffs met May 22 to share ref A demarche with
Camille Grand, DAS-equivalent for Chemical and Biological
Disarmament and Conventional Weapons Control at the MFA,
along with Arnaud Roux, Special Advisor in the same office.
Grand expressed "near 100 percent unanimity" with the U.S.
position. He assured us that on the eve of the Lima
conference, the French focus is on ensuring that any treaty
on cluster munitions is negotiated in the context of the
Convention on Chemical Weapons (CCW); this is the best way to
address humanitarian concerns and political pressure without
creating unreasonable military constraints. Although France
will participate in the Lima meeting in good faith, the
French consider it an informal meeting of like-minded
countries that may contribute to the work of the CCW, he
added. Should the CCW fail to produce action at its November
meeting, though, Grand said he feared the Oslo Process would
become the predominant forum for negotiations on cluster
munitions. To ensure success in the CCW context, Grand
proposes France host an experts meeting in Paris the week of
June 11, leading up to the Group of Government Experts (GGE)
meeting in Geneva the following week.
4. (C) Grand explained that France, along with other EU
member states, is feeling pressure from the NGO community to
act on cluster munitions. Further, Roux noted that in a May
21 meeting with Bernard Kouchner, the new Foreign Minister --
known for his humanitarian approach to foreign policy --
expressed some interest in cluster munitions. Roux and Grand
provided no further details, but suggested that the issue may
now have higher political visibility at the MFA. Grand
acknowledged that the November CCW meeting sets an ambitious
timeframe, so planning must begin now to gain necessary
momentum.
5. (C) To that end, Grand proposed holding a technical
experts meeting in Paris the week of June 11, to include the
UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Germany. Including Brazil
in the meeting might not be useful, but he did not object to
doing so, and he suggested that it might be worthwhile to
invite Israel. He proposed that white papers be exchanged
the week of June 4. If a Paris meeting is not possible,
interested parties could instead meet on the margins of the
GGE, but that would be less productive. Grand suggested
developing a proposal based on the Oslo language, with
serious, rigorous content developed by experts. He estimated
that if a core group proceeded quickly with a serious
proposal, the proposal could soon gain the support of 60
countries, including many European countries.
6. ACTION REQUEST. Post suggests timely investigation of the
feasibility of an experts meeting in Paris the week of June
11, with a quick and positive response provided to the MFA.
Please advise. END ACTION REQUEST.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: MARR PARM PGOV PREL NATO FR
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS: FRANCE PROPOSES PUSH IN CCW
CONTEXT
REF: A) STATE 66596 B) PARIS 1312
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, for reas
ons 1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 6.
2. (C) SUMMARY. The French MFA shares the U.S. view that
negotiations on cluster munitions cannot proceed productively
outside the Convention on Chemical Weapons. To slow the
growing political momentum behind the Norwegian push to ban
cluster munitions, like-minded nations that seek a compromise
between humanitarian concerns and military necessity must
produce a viable alternative proposal, Camille Grand,
DAS-equivalent for Chemical and Biological Disarmament and
Conventional Weapons Control at the MFA, told us May 22.
Towards that end, Grand proposes to invite the U.S. and other
like-minded nations to a meeting of technical experts in
Paris the week of June 11. He further requested that each
country circulate a white paper for discussion the week of
June 4. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) Poloffs met May 22 to share ref A demarche with
Camille Grand, DAS-equivalent for Chemical and Biological
Disarmament and Conventional Weapons Control at the MFA,
along with Arnaud Roux, Special Advisor in the same office.
Grand expressed "near 100 percent unanimity" with the U.S.
position. He assured us that on the eve of the Lima
conference, the French focus is on ensuring that any treaty
on cluster munitions is negotiated in the context of the
Convention on Chemical Weapons (CCW); this is the best way to
address humanitarian concerns and political pressure without
creating unreasonable military constraints. Although France
will participate in the Lima meeting in good faith, the
French consider it an informal meeting of like-minded
countries that may contribute to the work of the CCW, he
added. Should the CCW fail to produce action at its November
meeting, though, Grand said he feared the Oslo Process would
become the predominant forum for negotiations on cluster
munitions. To ensure success in the CCW context, Grand
proposes France host an experts meeting in Paris the week of
June 11, leading up to the Group of Government Experts (GGE)
meeting in Geneva the following week.
4. (C) Grand explained that France, along with other EU
member states, is feeling pressure from the NGO community to
act on cluster munitions. Further, Roux noted that in a May
21 meeting with Bernard Kouchner, the new Foreign Minister --
known for his humanitarian approach to foreign policy --
expressed some interest in cluster munitions. Roux and Grand
provided no further details, but suggested that the issue may
now have higher political visibility at the MFA. Grand
acknowledged that the November CCW meeting sets an ambitious
timeframe, so planning must begin now to gain necessary
momentum.
5. (C) To that end, Grand proposed holding a technical
experts meeting in Paris the week of June 11, to include the
UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Germany. Including Brazil
in the meeting might not be useful, but he did not object to
doing so, and he suggested that it might be worthwhile to
invite Israel. He proposed that white papers be exchanged
the week of June 4. If a Paris meeting is not possible,
interested parties could instead meet on the margins of the
GGE, but that would be less productive. Grand suggested
developing a proposal based on the Oslo language, with
serious, rigorous content developed by experts. He estimated
that if a core group proceeded quickly with a serious
proposal, the proposal could soon gain the support of 60
countries, including many European countries.
6. ACTION REQUEST. Post suggests timely investigation of the
feasibility of an experts meeting in Paris the week of June
11, with a quick and positive response provided to the MFA.
Please advise. END ACTION REQUEST.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON