Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS4254
2007-10-15 05:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRANCE/GAERC: BROAD AGREEMENT ON MOST ISSUES

Tags:  EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL YI RS LY IS IZ 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004254 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL YI RS LY IS IZ
SY, LE, CD, BM, IR, XF, FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE/GAERC: BROAD AGREEMENT ON MOST ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 141316

B. STATE 143223

C. PARIS 3534

PARIS 00004254 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Andrew Young for reasons 1.4
b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004254

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL YI RS LY IS IZ
SY, LE, CD, BM, IR, XF, FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE/GAERC: BROAD AGREEMENT ON MOST ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 141316

B. STATE 143223

C. PARIS 3534

PARIS 00004254 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Andrew Young for reasons 1.4
b and d.


1. (C) On October 9, 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
October 15-16 GAERC meeting of EU foreign ministers. On
October 12, PolOff delivered ref B demarche to MFA
DAS-equivalent for Iran, Iraq and the Gulf Franck Gellet, who
stated that the meeting will produce a compromise, as
France's tough line will be mitigated by the variety of
viewpoints within the EU.


2. (C) KOSOVO: Cohet noted strong convergence between the
U.S. and French positions, stressing that the current period
of engagement is time-limited and that if there is no
breakthrough, the Ahtissari plan and
internationally-supervised independence for Kosovo is the
best way forward. He expressed France's agreement that a
unified and clear EU position on Kosovo is crucial.


3. (C) RUSSIA: Cohet said France agrees that disagreements
should not be "papered over," referencing President
Sarkozy's recent visit to Russia. He said the French are
working within the EU for a coherent, frank European dialogue
with Russia.


4. (C) ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS: Cohet stated that
France's priority objective, for the Annapolis meeting and
for the situation in general, is delivering something
concrete, echoing his response to the September GAERC
demarche. He emphasized the importance that the
international community, including the U.S. and the EU, work

together to ensure this outcome and achieve "meaningful
progress on the ground."


5. (C) IRAQ: French views on Iraq continue to echo the
themes of FM Kouchner's August visit (see ref C). Cohet said
France sees visits such as FM Kouchner's as important in
sending positive political signals to the Iraqis. He
remarked on FM Kouchner's ongoing interest in the refugee
situation. He stated that the current momentum can be
supported by the international community and Iraq's
neighbors, but must also be maintained by Iraqis, noting the
need for reconciliation and an end to violence.


6. (C) IRAN: Gellet responded to the supplemental demarche
on Iran by saying that he expected the final GAERC text to
represent a compromise "not far from what we want." However,
he doubted that we would be entirely satisfied given the many
different points of view among EU members and what he termed
the "enormous effort" France has had to employ to persuade
other members of the stakes and the need to take firm action.
On the political level, Gellet referred to vastly different
perceptions of the risk posed by Iran's possession of nuclear
weapons as well as how imminently Iran would acquire such a
capability. On the economic/commercial level, many states
had different interests and inclinations as far as readiness
to impose sanctions that would affect their own companies.
France, he explained, had only recently concluded that the
risk of a nuclear-armed Iran outweighed the financial price
of restricting further investment by French firms in Iran.
Gellet also referred to a real difference of view over
whether the EU should impose additional sanctions if the
UNSC, which should normally take such a lead, failed to do so.


7. (C) With respect to the wording of the supplemental
demarche, Gellet appreciated our expression of support for
France's tough line within the EU on this issue, but he
observed "with the frankness only friends can use" that our
message as written may have been counterproductive in terms

PARIS 00004254 002.2 OF 002


of what France had hoped to achieve. He argued that this was
an occasion when a minimalist expression of our view without
reference to the internal EU conversation on the subject
would have been more effective. "We should be left to
conduct our dialogue among ourselves," he emphasized.


8. (C) SYRIA-LEBANON BORDER: Cohet said that the U.S. views
on a possible EU border mission were noted, while debate is
ongoing. A mission would need to be very well planned and,
as the U.S. non-paper states, include strict conditions to
avoid giving advantage to Syria.


9. (C) BURMA: Cohet stated France's preference, which
converges with U.S. views, for a two-pronged approach, with
agreement on sanctions alongside a political process focused
on dialogue with ASEAN countries, China, India, and Japan.


10. (C) LIBYA, CHAD: Cohet had no comment regarding Libya
or Chad.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


Stapleton