Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS3772
2007-09-11 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXRO4252 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHFR #3772 2541640 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111640Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0034 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY 0052 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 2072 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1356
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003772
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY EU
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON
AT GYMNICH
REF: STATE 125520
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4. (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003772
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY EU
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON
AT GYMNICH
REF: STATE 125520
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4. (b),(d).
1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche late the afternoon of
September 7 to French MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant
Ludovic Pouille. He was a bit surprised to receive such a
message so late, i.e., after FM Kouchner had already left to
attend the Gymnich. After confirming the message was
addressed to all EU member states, Pouille said that France
had concluded, in light of an initiative proposed by Lebanese
parliament speaker Nabih Berri, to press anew for Lebanese
faction leaders to agree on a compromise presidential
candidate and not to favor someone chosen by the "March 14"
majority. FM Kouchner had decided in principle to add Beirut
to the end of his September 10-14 trip to Israel, the West
Bank, Jordan, and Egypt. On the Lebanon/Syria border
monitoring group, Pouille said that France prefers to wait
until after the UNSYG next reports to the UNSC in October
before deciding on next steps. He explained that France
would also prefer not to introduce an issue that would
potentially upset the Syrians in this delicate period prior
to the Lebanese presidential election.
2. (C) Pouille, who is part of Kouchner's entourage
visiting the Levant, was unavailable for follow-up on
September 10. French MFA Syria/Lebanon desk officer
Jean-Christophe Auge, however, told us late that day that
Kouchner had provided a briefing to EU foreign ministers
focused entirely on France's efforts to help the Lebanese
resolve their political crisis. He provided no details of
the discussion but noted it resulted in no recorded
concluding statement. According to Auge, there was no
discussion of the monitoring group for the Lebanese/Syrian
border.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY EU
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON
AT GYMNICH
REF: STATE 125520
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4. (b),(d).
1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche late the afternoon of
September 7 to French MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant
Ludovic Pouille. He was a bit surprised to receive such a
message so late, i.e., after FM Kouchner had already left to
attend the Gymnich. After confirming the message was
addressed to all EU member states, Pouille said that France
had concluded, in light of an initiative proposed by Lebanese
parliament speaker Nabih Berri, to press anew for Lebanese
faction leaders to agree on a compromise presidential
candidate and not to favor someone chosen by the "March 14"
majority. FM Kouchner had decided in principle to add Beirut
to the end of his September 10-14 trip to Israel, the West
Bank, Jordan, and Egypt. On the Lebanon/Syria border
monitoring group, Pouille said that France prefers to wait
until after the UNSYG next reports to the UNSC in October
before deciding on next steps. He explained that France
would also prefer not to introduce an issue that would
potentially upset the Syrians in this delicate period prior
to the Lebanese presidential election.
2. (C) Pouille, who is part of Kouchner's entourage
visiting the Levant, was unavailable for follow-up on
September 10. French MFA Syria/Lebanon desk officer
Jean-Christophe Auge, however, told us late that day that
Kouchner had provided a briefing to EU foreign ministers
focused entirely on France's efforts to help the Lebanese
resolve their political crisis. He provided no details of
the discussion but noted it resulted in no recorded
concluding statement. According to Auge, there was no
discussion of the monitoring group for the Lebanese/Syrian
border.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton