GYMNICH: FRENCH VIEWS GENERALLY IN STEP WITH U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003737 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2017 TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL RS YI CH FR SUBJECT: GYMNICH: FRENCH VIEWS GENERALLY IN STEP WITH U.S. REF: A. STATE 123576 ¶B. PARIS 3579 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, for reas ons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) On September 6, PolOff delivered ref A demarche to MFA CFSP Deputy Emmanuel Cohet, who indicated general agreement between U.S. views and French positions in advance of the informal Gymnich meeting of EU foreign ministers. Approaches converge most on Kosovo and Iran. Cohet said France views progress in the international meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as of primary importance. ¶2. (C) Kosovo: Cohet said that France shares U.S. support for the Troika's final attempt to reach a solution to the Kosovo problem. Recognizing the importance of determining a legal basis for future recognition and deployment of an ESDP mission, Cohet noted that lawyers from the State Department are working these issues with their European counterparts. ¶3. (C) Russia: Cohet noted the French and U.S. approaches are similar, prioritizing support for civil society and an ODIHR mission. Cohet stressed the centrality of the OSCE to resolving the Russia-Georgia situation, including through confidence-building measures. ¶4. (C) Iran: Cohet agreed broadly on the approach to Iran, saying that the international community must hold Iran accountable and that we should continue to work through the P5 1 process. He said next steps will have to be determined as the process unfolds, and referred to President Sarkozy's August 27 foreign policy speech in which he called Iran "the most serious crisis facing the international community today" (See ref B.) ¶5. (C) Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Cohet said that France views the progress in talks as the most important objective. He also stated France's appreciation for Tony Blair in his new role. Cohet said the meetings on the margin of the UNGA, with Secretary Rice and EU foreign ministers, will be a positive development. Cohet appreciated the nod to EU assistance efforts, and said resumption of the EU COPPS police training program is under discussion, with the outcome yet unknown. Regarding the planned international meeting this fall, Cohet noted France's support for any initiative that is useful, concrete, and will move the process forward. ¶6. (C) China, India: Cohet indicated that China and India would not be major topics of the Gymnich meeting. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm PEKALA