SARKOZY PRESS CONFERENCE ON FOREIGN POLICY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000777 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL FR EUN UNO NATO IR MNUC IS KPAL SUBJECT: SARKOZY PRESS CONFERENCE ON FOREIGN POLICY ¶1. SUMMARY: Interior Minister and center-right presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, appearing relaxed and confident in a February 28 press conference and Q-and-A session, laid out a foreign policy vision that focused straight-forwardly on strengthening Europe, preserving the importance of the Transatlantic relationship (including NATO as well as EU/ESDP and adequate defense expenditures),and promoting the "universal" values of human rights and liberty throughout the world (over stability leading to immobility). Sarkozy praised President Chirac's policies on the Balkans, Iraq, Lebanon, climate change (where he urged the U.S. to set a better example),and cultural diversity, but called for a more critical approach toward Russia and China, and, on Africa, reducing France's military presence and a foreign policy based less on personal relationships. (More generally, he argued for a foreign policy no longer considered purely the "private reserve" of the Presidency.) Sarkozy advocated for a relationship of confidence with the U.S. that would respect the EU's and France's freedom to differ and autonomy (his opposition to Turkish EU membership was cited as an example),and suggested indirectly it was perhaps time for France to extend its nuclear deterrent to its neighbors. Calling Europe his number one priority, he reiterated his call for a "mini-treaty" focused on institutional reform and gradually increasing the policy domains subject to double majority voting. ¶2. SUMMARY CONT'D: On the Middle East, Sarkozy stressed the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability and proposed an international nuclear fuel authority to extend economic and technological development to the South as insurance against terrorism. He stressed the importance of supporting moderate Arabs over extremists, urged success in Lebanon, supported a secure Israel and viable Palestinian state, saw a need for "setting a horizon" for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and called for French leadership in creating a Mediterranean Union as Europe's partner. ¶3. SUMMARY CONT'D: Sarkozy repeated familiar French views on multilateralism and strengthening and enlarging the UN Security Council (NATO should not compete with the UN),with no references to putative U.S. unilateralism. He defended the European "economic patriotism" and called for greater 
French economic and commercial engagement, particularly in Asia (where he suggested France also needed to move more of its diplomatic resources). He welcomed competition from China and others, including in Africa, provided that China also played by the established rules. END SUMMARY. INTRODUCTION ¶5. Outlining his foreign policy priorities during a February 28 press conference and follow-up question-and-answer period (it was not a formal policy address),Interior Minister and center-right presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy stated that foreign policy was not a constant. As the world changed, France needed to adapt. International developments were important, given France,s worldwide engagements, including military and diplomatic presence and its two million French citizens residing overseas. Two major events in recent time had altered French perspectives. First was the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989 and second was 9/11, the latter effectively putting an end to the post-cold war period and highlighting terrorism as a major threat. ¶6. Sarkozy praised the foreign policy of President Chirac, citing his decision to be engaged in the Balkans since 1995, his desire to avoid the Iraq war, ongoing support for Lebanon's sovereignty, climate change, and defense of cultural diversity. He emphasized that foreign policy should be about vision and doctrine, joking that at the MFA, an obtuse policy is seen as one that can,t fail. He was adamant that French policy would ensure that France maintained its freedom and independence of action. EUROPE ¶7. Sarkozy said Europeans needed to take more responsibility in the world. There was general agreement on direction, but Europeans had not generated the power to match. It was not surprising that Europe was more often a spectator, an executor of policy, or a financial contributor rather than an active player. As a first remedy, he proposed adoption of a simplified Treaty to overcome the problem of the rejected constitutional treaty. The aim would not be to remake Europe, but to get its institutions functioning and on track. He called for the creation of a European Foreign Minister, an enlarged role for European Parliament, a reinforced General Council, and increasing the number of policy domains subject to qualified majority voting. Sarkozy concluded by noting that while each of the 27 EU member states had the right to say "no," none should have the right to block others PARIS 00000777 002 OF 003 from moving forward, i.e., the principle of unanimity needs to be done away with. SECURITY ¶8. Sarkozy stressed the importance of ensuring the security of France, and maintaining the independence of Europe. On the latter point, he noted that France and the United States were old friends that needed to respect each other,s freedom and remain free to disagree on occasion. It was also essential to maintain France,s nuclear shield. He suggested the French nuclear shield might eventually be extended to its neighbors, given linkages between French interests and those of its European neighbors. The protection of French interests required the continued modernization of French armaments, with proper oversight. ¶9. Turning to transatlantic security, Sarkozy observed that Americans and Europeans alike needed NATO and ESDP. There was significant overlap in ESDP and NATO membership already, he added, but also a number of European countries that belonged to only one organization. Sarkozy warned against NATO exceeding its defense role and seeking to become a competitor to the UN. Also, given that Europe was no longer the center of U.S. priorities, Europe needed to be able to defend itself. Sarkozy firmly stated that he would ensure that defense spending not drop below 2 percent of GDP -- this was the price of maintaining a free and influential France. He called on his European partners to spend more on defense, as it was not sustainable that the UK and France were called on to cover roughly 40 percent of European defense expenditures. ¶10. In an indirect swipe at the socialist candidate, Segolene Royal, who earlier advocated cuts in defense spending in favor of a larger education budget, Sarkozy noted that "it would be irresponsible to tell the French public that they have to choose between their children,s education and security." A president had a duty to ensure both, he added. Sarkozy made a plug in defense of a strong intelligence capability, as well as for the necessity to move forward on the construction of a second aircraft (Royal said she would cancel the second carrier). The second carrier was essential to project strength and to respond to any threat to French interests, Sarkozy concluded. He touched on European plans to construct its transport plane, the A400M. IRAN ¶11. Sarkozy termed the Iranian nuclear question as the most important foreign policy issue today. A nuclear armed Iran was unacceptable, he emphasized. An Iran armed with nuclear weapons would lead to an arms race in the region and pose a threat to Israel and southern Europe. Sanctions were therefore important and were proving effective. Sarkozy advocated the creation, under IAEA and UN supervision, of a world bank of nuclear materials to foreclose the need for states to pursue the enrichment process. The provision of nuclear energy would greatly help alleviate misery in the underdeveloped world and preclude the growth of terrorism. It was important to show that energy was not just for the rich, he added. ENVIRONMENT ¶12. Sarkozy voiced support for Kyoto, however weak, as a good approach to protecting the environment. The U.S. should lead by example. Meanwhile, he called on China, Brazil, India and Russia to recognize that, to be considered world players, they must also abide by these same Kyoto restrictions. Separately, he took note that the WTO has not done enough on environment. PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND LIBERTY (OR TRANSFORMATIONAL DIPLOMACY IN A MINOR KEY) ¶13. Sarkozy rejected the notion that some parts of the world "are not ready for democracy" and asserted that values and interests can go together in a way that combines idealism and realism. "Realpolitik" was not always realistic, and a policy focused only on stability leads to immobility. Silence was a crime on issues such as Chechnya and Darfur, and major countries such as China and Russia could not afford to ignore human rights. MIDDLE EAST ¶14. Turning to the Middle East, Sarkozy said the key was to strengthen the hands of moderates against radicals. In Lebanon, this meant also ridding the country of foreign interference. He reiterated his call for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis that would protect Israel's security and guarantee a viable Palestinian state, and called PARIS 00000777 003 OF 003 for increased European engagement. On Iraq, premature withdrawal would lead to chaos, but there needed to be the prospect of withdrawal as well as an understanding within a sovereign government on power and resource sharing among communities. MEDITERRANEAN UNION ¶15. In closing remarks, Sarkozy proposed that the European dream be extended to the Mediterranean under French leadership. The Barcelona process was not adequate; France should encourage a Mediterranean Union in the areas of immigration, economy, human rights and the environment. Europe had a vital interest in forming an alliance with the Mediterranean. AFRICA ¶16. On Africa, Sarkozy said French youth did not understand the purpose of French bases on that continent. It was time to build a partnership with the African Union and limit the French presence to a minimum. In answer to a question, he welcomed the presence of the U.S., India and China, which had the potential for increasing job opportunities, so long as all parties played by the rules. The challenges of Africa today would be those of France tomorrow. He later specified that it was improper for China to offer assistance and contracts with no strings attached. PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ¶17. Sarkozy defended the idea of a "European preference," insisting that the U.S., Chinese, and Japanese had their own national preferences and that France would insist on reciprocity. He welcomed competition, so long as it was based on reciprocity and equal access and anti-dumping. Responding to a question about France's diplomatic presence, he called for shifting personnel from Europe to Asia. THE VIRTUES OF MULTILATERALISM ¶18. In the way of a conclusion, Sarkozy praised multilateralism and called for a legitimate and effective UN. He advocated an enlargement of the UN Security Council, representative of the world's regions and based on considerations of population, economic contributions, and -- important for him -- troop contributions to peacekeeping operations. Acknowledging the difficulty of reaching consensus, he proposed consideration of possible transitional arrangements for access to permanent seat status. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON