Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS2802
2007-06-29 12:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE INCREASING JUSTICE AID TO AFGHANISTAN
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #2802/01 1801211 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 291211Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8593 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0830 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1509 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 6614 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6346 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1017 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 1466 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 1298 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0715 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 1040 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6596 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 2646 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5888 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1128 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 1502 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2128 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0350 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 8446 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 1533 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 2811 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2521 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0391 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 1335 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1282
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002802
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2017
TAGS: KJUS PREL SA AF IBRD FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE INCREASING JUSTICE AID TO AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 87370
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt
for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002802
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2017
TAGS: KJUS PREL SA AF IBRD FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE INCREASING JUSTICE AID TO AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 87370
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt
for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 28, MFA sources confirmed that that
the new French administration is showing much more interest
in Afghanistan, and that France plans to increase civil
assistance to Afghanistan in a number of ways. The GOF has
decided to provide an expert and some funding for a regional
field office as part of the Provincial Justice Coordination
Mechanism. The MFA is also considering a contribution to the
Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund. In addition, France is
augmenting its existing program of bilateral assistance by
expanding its work with Afghan Supreme Court justices,
engaging with the Afghan National Police regarding juvenile
justice, and discussing with Kabul and the UNDP a training
program for parliamentarians. Due to a ministerial-level
scheduling conflict, the GOF will be represented in Rome by
Michel Filhol, MFA A/S-equivalent for Asia and Oceania. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) On June 28, we presented reftel demarche to MFA desk
officer for Afghanistan Cyril Gerardon, who noted that the
Sarkozy Government is keen to expand its assistance to
Afghanistan. In response to our queries, he made the
following comments:
-- Provincial Justice Coordination Mechanism (PJCM):
Gerardon stated that France is prepared to provide a
technical expert and some funding for one regional field
office as part of the PJCM, preferably in Mazar-e-Sharif or
Bamian.
-- Multilateral Funding Mechanism: France has not yet made
any national contribution to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust
Fund, but is seriously considering doing so. There is no
budget decision yet, so no contribution will be announced in
Rome. October is a more likely timeframe for a potential
announcement. According to Gerardon, the Law and Order Trust
Fund for Afghanistan is not actively being considered as an
option now, but it could be considered at a later date.
-- Bilateral Assistance: France has focused on bilateral
assistance thus far, including the justice sector, and plans
to expand its current programs while considering new ones.
First, the French-German initiative to provide training to
Afghan Supreme Court justices will move into a second phase,
with a sum of 2.2 million euros allocated for the development
of a national training center for judges in Afghanistan.
According to Gerardon, the project is not yet confirmed, as
details are still being worked out with the Government of
Afghanistan. Secondly, France is moving into capacity
building for Afghan National Police officers dedicated to
working on juvenile offenses cases. Thirdly, France is
working with the U.N. Development Programme in Kabul
regarding a possible project of Parliamentary training on
public administration. Though the project is not yet
confirmed, it would have a budget of approximately two
million euros.
3. (C) France will be represented at the Rome Conference by
Michel Filhol, the MFA's Assistant Secretary-equivalent for
Asia and Oceania and former French ambassador to Singapore.
Gerardon explained that French Prime Minister Fillon is
addressing the French National Assembly on July 3, where all
ministers without exception are expected to be present. Rama
Yade, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights
and a rising star in Sarkozy's administration, was therefore
obliged to cancel her participation in the conference, and
other higher-level French participation is precluded as well.
Gerardon stressed that this is an unfortunate accident of
timing.
4. (C) COMMENT: It appears that the French administration
is much more open now to a more active engagement in
assistance to Afghanistan, including in the justice sector.
Post recommends further encouragement on the sidelines of the
Rome conference. Gerardon stated that for the MFA
Afghanistan desk, this moment offers a real opportunity for
engagement following three years of inactivity and
frustration. END COMMENT.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2017
TAGS: KJUS PREL SA AF IBRD FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE INCREASING JUSTICE AID TO AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 87370
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt
for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 28, MFA sources confirmed that that
the new French administration is showing much more interest
in Afghanistan, and that France plans to increase civil
assistance to Afghanistan in a number of ways. The GOF has
decided to provide an expert and some funding for a regional
field office as part of the Provincial Justice Coordination
Mechanism. The MFA is also considering a contribution to the
Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund. In addition, France is
augmenting its existing program of bilateral assistance by
expanding its work with Afghan Supreme Court justices,
engaging with the Afghan National Police regarding juvenile
justice, and discussing with Kabul and the UNDP a training
program for parliamentarians. Due to a ministerial-level
scheduling conflict, the GOF will be represented in Rome by
Michel Filhol, MFA A/S-equivalent for Asia and Oceania. END
SUMMARY.
2. (C) On June 28, we presented reftel demarche to MFA desk
officer for Afghanistan Cyril Gerardon, who noted that the
Sarkozy Government is keen to expand its assistance to
Afghanistan. In response to our queries, he made the
following comments:
-- Provincial Justice Coordination Mechanism (PJCM):
Gerardon stated that France is prepared to provide a
technical expert and some funding for one regional field
office as part of the PJCM, preferably in Mazar-e-Sharif or
Bamian.
-- Multilateral Funding Mechanism: France has not yet made
any national contribution to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust
Fund, but is seriously considering doing so. There is no
budget decision yet, so no contribution will be announced in
Rome. October is a more likely timeframe for a potential
announcement. According to Gerardon, the Law and Order Trust
Fund for Afghanistan is not actively being considered as an
option now, but it could be considered at a later date.
-- Bilateral Assistance: France has focused on bilateral
assistance thus far, including the justice sector, and plans
to expand its current programs while considering new ones.
First, the French-German initiative to provide training to
Afghan Supreme Court justices will move into a second phase,
with a sum of 2.2 million euros allocated for the development
of a national training center for judges in Afghanistan.
According to Gerardon, the project is not yet confirmed, as
details are still being worked out with the Government of
Afghanistan. Secondly, France is moving into capacity
building for Afghan National Police officers dedicated to
working on juvenile offenses cases. Thirdly, France is
working with the U.N. Development Programme in Kabul
regarding a possible project of Parliamentary training on
public administration. Though the project is not yet
confirmed, it would have a budget of approximately two
million euros.
3. (C) France will be represented at the Rome Conference by
Michel Filhol, the MFA's Assistant Secretary-equivalent for
Asia and Oceania and former French ambassador to Singapore.
Gerardon explained that French Prime Minister Fillon is
addressing the French National Assembly on July 3, where all
ministers without exception are expected to be present. Rama
Yade, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights
and a rising star in Sarkozy's administration, was therefore
obliged to cancel her participation in the conference, and
other higher-level French participation is precluded as well.
Gerardon stressed that this is an unfortunate accident of
timing.
4. (C) COMMENT: It appears that the French administration
is much more open now to a more active engagement in
assistance to Afghanistan, including in the justice sector.
Post recommends further encouragement on the sidelines of the
Rome conference. Gerardon stated that for the MFA
Afghanistan desk, this moment offers a real opportunity for
engagement following three years of inactivity and
frustration. END COMMENT.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON