FRANCE/GAERC: AGREEMENT ON MOST ISSUES, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000223 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG EAID MARR EUN YI SR BK IS IR SO, SU, KPAL SUBJECT: FRANCE/GAERC: AGREEMENT ON MOST ISSUES, BUT SQUISHY ON KOSOVO REF: STATE 5256 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (U) Poloff shared reftel points January 19 with MFA CFSP Unit Deputy (DAS-equivalent) Emmanuel Cohet. ¶2. (C) Kosovo: Cohet said France and the U.S. are in complete agreement on the need for unity between the U.S. and EU, particularly in supporting UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari. ¶3. (C) Serbia: Cohet agreed that it is important to push a new Serbian government to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal. However, he said the GoF is not troubled by additional delays in the resolution of Kosovo's final status if delay permits participation of a newly-elected Serbian government. "We need to show flexibility and must consult with the new government in Belgrade," he explained, adding that careful coordination will make the final plan "more palatable" to the Serbians. ¶4. (C) Bosnia: Cohet said the GoF shares the U.S. position. ¶5. (C) Israeli-Palestinian Issues: Cohet said the MFA was delighted that Secretary Rice traveled to the Middle East, characterizing her visit as a "very important" sign of U.S. engagement in the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. He said the MFA hopes to have another meeting of the Quartet in the U.S. in the near future. ¶6. (C) Iran: While Cohet said the EU is fully committed to the implementation of UNSC 1737, he added that it would take time for the EU to develop a unanimously acceptable text in order to introduce supplementary measures consistent with U.S. Executive Order 13382. He added that the GoF is particularly in agreement with the U.S. on the importance of working together to foster democracy and civil society in Iran. ¶7. (C) Somalia and Sudan: Cohet said France agrees that the U.S. and EU share common goals in both Somalia and Sudan and should coordinate closely. The key issue will be how to finance peacekeeping and stablization efforts. Cohet underlined that although the two conflicts must be addressed separately, EU resources are not infinite and it will need to establish funding priorities. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON