FRENCH RECEPTIVE TO IOM CANDIDACY OF AMBASSADOR

UNCLAS PARIS 003024 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF ELAB FR SUBJECT: FRENCH RECEPTIVE TO IOM CANDIDACY OF AMBASSADOR SWING, WAITING ON EUROPEAN VIEWS REF: STATE 93920 ¶1. (SBU) MFA IO PDAS-Equivalent Marc Giacomini told poloff on July 10 that the MFA was open to the candidacy of Ambassador William Lacy Swing for Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The MFA concurred with the U.S. "in principle" that tenure in senior UN offices should not exceed a maximum of two terms. Giacomini stopped short of a declaration of support for Swing's candidacy for IOM Director-General, cautioning that the MFA needed to consult first with European partners who might also be considering national candidacies. In any event, France would not be putting forward a French national for the IOM position, he said. ¶2. (SBU) In addition to incumbent IOM DG Brunson McKinley's current campaign for a third term, Giacomini advised that International Labor Office (ILO) DG Juan Solavia may also seek a third mandate. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON