Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS3027
2007-07-13 09:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ON LIBYAN CW
how-toVZCZCXRO1596 OO RUEHTRO DE RUEHFR #3027 1940901 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 130901Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8931 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 6634 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6618 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 8471 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 2823 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0093
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC GM IT LY FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ON LIBYAN CW
DESTRUCTION
REF: STATE 94204
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4
b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC GM IT LY FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ON LIBYAN CW
DESTRUCTION
REF: STATE 94204
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4
b and d.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 10, we delivered reftel demarche to
MFA desk officers for CW issues Olivier Sigaud and Minh-di
Tang. Sigaud related that the GOF understood that, as of
late 2006, Libya was considering the U.S. and French
proposals. He commented that the U.S. proposal was
expensive, but partially financed, while the French one
focused on technical assistance and did not comprise any
funding. According to Sigaud, France had concluded in 2006
that Libya had already decided against the Italian and German
proposals (reftel),and seemed to be playing the French and
U.S. proposals off each other, trying to get the best deal.
At a Quad meeting in Paris in early 2007, according to
Sigaud, France had told the U.S. the Libyans were playing a
complicated game, and that we needed to coordinate more
closely to ensure that our shared priority - timely
destruction of Libyan CW stockpiles - was met.
2. (C) In the way of additional background, Sigaud noted
that the French had been surprised in 2006 to learn about the
government-to-government contract between the U.S. and Libya.
They had been further surprised in The Hague by Libya's
subsequent announcement that it had dropped the U.S. contract
for the destruction of its stock of chemical weapons in favor
of a European company. He observed that "a priori" the firm
in question could not be French. Meanwhile, the Germans were
saying it was not German, while the Italians were not sure
whether it could be Italian, he said.
3. (C) Sigaud expressed a low level of confidence in the
Libyan authorities and questioned whether a contract exists.
Sigaud noted that if there is no contract, he is worried that
Libya may not intend to follow through with the destruction
of its chemical weapons. Given the low level of security at
their storage site, the situation is already worrisome, he
added.
4. (C) Sigaud reaffirmed French support for our common goals
and advised that France is also seeking information on Libyan
intentions in Tripoli and other capitals, including Rome and
Berlin. Stressing the importance of information exchange, he
said that France would share any useful results with the
U.S., and asked us to do the same. Sigaud, alluding again to
the 2006 U.S.-Libyan contract, appealed for continued and
formal contacts on this issue, including through ongoing CW
demarches.
5. (U) MINIMIZE FOR TRIPOLI CONSIDERED.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL CWC GM IT LY FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ON LIBYAN CW
DESTRUCTION
REF: STATE 94204
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Bruce Turner for reasons 1.4
b and d.
1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 10, we delivered reftel demarche to
MFA desk officers for CW issues Olivier Sigaud and Minh-di
Tang. Sigaud related that the GOF understood that, as of
late 2006, Libya was considering the U.S. and French
proposals. He commented that the U.S. proposal was
expensive, but partially financed, while the French one
focused on technical assistance and did not comprise any
funding. According to Sigaud, France had concluded in 2006
that Libya had already decided against the Italian and German
proposals (reftel),and seemed to be playing the French and
U.S. proposals off each other, trying to get the best deal.
At a Quad meeting in Paris in early 2007, according to
Sigaud, France had told the U.S. the Libyans were playing a
complicated game, and that we needed to coordinate more
closely to ensure that our shared priority - timely
destruction of Libyan CW stockpiles - was met.
2. (C) In the way of additional background, Sigaud noted
that the French had been surprised in 2006 to learn about the
government-to-government contract between the U.S. and Libya.
They had been further surprised in The Hague by Libya's
subsequent announcement that it had dropped the U.S. contract
for the destruction of its stock of chemical weapons in favor
of a European company. He observed that "a priori" the firm
in question could not be French. Meanwhile, the Germans were
saying it was not German, while the Italians were not sure
whether it could be Italian, he said.
3. (C) Sigaud expressed a low level of confidence in the
Libyan authorities and questioned whether a contract exists.
Sigaud noted that if there is no contract, he is worried that
Libya may not intend to follow through with the destruction
of its chemical weapons. Given the low level of security at
their storage site, the situation is already worrisome, he
added.
4. (C) Sigaud reaffirmed French support for our common goals
and advised that France is also seeking information on Libyan
intentions in Tripoli and other capitals, including Rome and
Berlin. Stressing the importance of information exchange, he
said that France would share any useful results with the
U.S., and asked us to do the same. Sigaud, alluding again to
the 2006 U.S.-Libyan contract, appealed for continued and
formal contacts on this issue, including through ongoing CW
demarches.
5. (U) MINIMIZE FOR TRIPOLI CONSIDERED.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON