Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARIS4529
2007-11-19 16:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
USD(P) EDELMAN MEETING WITH FRENCH DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXRO0203 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #4529 3231644 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191644Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1170 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0727 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0558 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6005 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0477 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004529
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR MCAP AF IR RU PK GG FR
SUBJECT: USD(P) EDELMAN MEETING WITH FRENCH DEFENSE
MINISTER MORIN
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004529
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR MCAP AF IR RU PK GG FR
SUBJECT: USD(P) EDELMAN MEETING WITH FRENCH DEFENSE
MINISTER MORIN
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On November 9, USD(P) Eric Edelman met
with French Defense Minister Herv Morin in Paris as a
follow-up to Secretary Of Defense Gates, 25 October meeting
with Morin at the NATO Informal Defense Ministerials.
Edelman provided Morin information on the Iranian ballistic
missile threat. Morin responded to SecDef questions on the
EU military capability by providing more detail on the French
position, stating that the U.S. needed to "get out of its
schizophrenia" regarding the development of independent EU
military capabilities.
-------------- ---
MISSILE DEFENSE/IRANIAN BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT
-------------- ---
2. (C) USD(P) Edelman explained that he was briefing Morin
at the request of Secretary Gates in response to the recent
NATO defense ministerial discussion on missile defense (MD),
where Morin requested the U.S. "open its books" on both the
technical parameters of the American MD system and our threat
analysis on Iran. USD(P) Edelman and an intelligence analyst
presented a briefing on the Iranian missile threat. Edelman
also said the technical parameters of U.S. MD would be
answered by Lt Gen Obering, MDA, on a subsequent visit.
Edelman suggested the U.S. would like to share ideas for
cooperation in MD with French industry, including potential
testing at a facility in Bordeaux. Morin responded by
repeating what he told SecDef Gates: "French participation in
MD, especially NATO MD, depends on the threat and timeframe
for the development of an Iranian long-range ballistic
missile". Morin observed that analysis of the missile threat
is significant for the French defense white paper. If the
threat is real, France would have to decide whether to do
something on its own or participate in the U.S. program. The
GOF would also have to determine the capability of French
industry to participate. Morin expressed confidence the U.S.
would be forthcoming with information and create an open
atmosphere similar to that which exists between the two
countries on other planning issues.
--------------
EUROPEAN UNION DEFENSE CAPABILITIES
--------------
3. (C) USD(P) Edelman, following up on SecDef,s meeting
with Morin on 25 Oct 07, asked about France,s position
regarding an independent EU military capability. Morin said
he senses a change in Europe regarding the European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP),citing German, Spanish, and
Belgian support for increasing the size of the EU military
planning cell. Morin said Europe needs to have autonomous
military assets in order to provide for its own defense.
Morin added that a European military planning system would
perfectly complement NATO, particularly since the EU would be
able to deploy for civil-military and low-intensity conflict
missions in theaters where NATO is unable or unwilling to
deploy NATO assets. Morin stressed this is a major point for
France, and that the U.S. should "get rid of its
schizophrenia" over EU military planning. USD(P) responded
that he would coordinate with U/S Burns to follow up.
4. (U) USD(P) Edelman has seen and approved this cable.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM MARR MCAP AF IR RU PK GG FR
SUBJECT: USD(P) EDELMAN MEETING WITH FRENCH DEFENSE
MINISTER MORIN
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso
ns 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On November 9, USD(P) Eric Edelman met
with French Defense Minister Herv Morin in Paris as a
follow-up to Secretary Of Defense Gates, 25 October meeting
with Morin at the NATO Informal Defense Ministerials.
Edelman provided Morin information on the Iranian ballistic
missile threat. Morin responded to SecDef questions on the
EU military capability by providing more detail on the French
position, stating that the U.S. needed to "get out of its
schizophrenia" regarding the development of independent EU
military capabilities.
-------------- ---
MISSILE DEFENSE/IRANIAN BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT
-------------- ---
2. (C) USD(P) Edelman explained that he was briefing Morin
at the request of Secretary Gates in response to the recent
NATO defense ministerial discussion on missile defense (MD),
where Morin requested the U.S. "open its books" on both the
technical parameters of the American MD system and our threat
analysis on Iran. USD(P) Edelman and an intelligence analyst
presented a briefing on the Iranian missile threat. Edelman
also said the technical parameters of U.S. MD would be
answered by Lt Gen Obering, MDA, on a subsequent visit.
Edelman suggested the U.S. would like to share ideas for
cooperation in MD with French industry, including potential
testing at a facility in Bordeaux. Morin responded by
repeating what he told SecDef Gates: "French participation in
MD, especially NATO MD, depends on the threat and timeframe
for the development of an Iranian long-range ballistic
missile". Morin observed that analysis of the missile threat
is significant for the French defense white paper. If the
threat is real, France would have to decide whether to do
something on its own or participate in the U.S. program. The
GOF would also have to determine the capability of French
industry to participate. Morin expressed confidence the U.S.
would be forthcoming with information and create an open
atmosphere similar to that which exists between the two
countries on other planning issues.
--------------
EUROPEAN UNION DEFENSE CAPABILITIES
--------------
3. (C) USD(P) Edelman, following up on SecDef,s meeting
with Morin on 25 Oct 07, asked about France,s position
regarding an independent EU military capability. Morin said
he senses a change in Europe regarding the European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP),citing German, Spanish, and
Belgian support for increasing the size of the EU military
planning cell. Morin said Europe needs to have autonomous
military assets in order to provide for its own defense.
Morin added that a European military planning system would
perfectly complement NATO, particularly since the EU would be
able to deploy for civil-military and low-intensity conflict
missions in theaters where NATO is unable or unwilling to
deploy NATO assets. Morin stressed this is a major point for
France, and that the U.S. should "get rid of its
schizophrenia" over EU military planning. USD(P) responded
that he would coordinate with U/S Burns to follow up.
4. (U) USD(P) Edelman has seen and approved this cable.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON