FRENCH ON MARCH 5-6 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000812 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2017 TAGS: PREL FR EUN PGOV PHUM UNAUS YI SR BK IS LE IR, TU, AF, KPAL SUBJECT: FRENCH ON MARCH 5-6 GAERC REF: STATE 23592 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 (B&D) ¶1. (U) Post delivered reftel points Feb 28 to MFA CFSP Unit Deputy (DAS- equivalent) Emmanuel Cohet (all points) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs European Affairs Director Natacha Rimbon (Energy Issues). ¶2. (C) Energy: Rimbon told us that France would push for a target of 20 percent renewable energy sources in the Commission,s energy and climate change policy package. France also planned to push for a reduction of carbon energy sources. France would oppose, however, the Commission,s plans to separate energy generation from energy distribution. She anticipated that the ministers would start discussing a post-Kyoto strategy for climate change. ¶3. (C) Bosnia: Cohet said the French position is in accord with ours. He reminded us that France participated in the consensus to continue OHR for a year. He insisted on the importance of unified pressure from the U.S. and EU on continued, intensified reform of policing and institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. ¶4. (C) Serbia: Cohet said there was no GAERC discussion of Serbia foreseen for March 5-6, but that France is in agreement on the points presented. ¶5. (C) Kosovo: Cohet agreed on the importance of U.S. and EU unity in supporting Ahtisaari. He said the coordination on the ground in Kosovo continues to be very positive. He agreed strongly in the iportance of close coordination between NATO, the EU, and UNMIK staffs to avoid security gaps. ¶6. (C) Israel-Palestine: Cohet referred to the "converging line of U.S. and French thinking" on the NUG and current Quartet efforts and said the EU needs to continue to support Abbas's efforts. He thinks the NUG is moving in the right direction, and agreed that Quartet principles "must be respected" by the NUG. He contendedthat the Quartet and its individual members must adjust quickly to make strong contacts with the evolving NUG, to avoid wasting opportunities as they arise. ¶7. (C) Iran: Cohet said that the U.S. and France remain in close coordination on Iran, affirming that France will be pushing for timely and full implementation of the Common Position. He agreed that the "community effort" is having an effect on Iran, and that this is the correct approach. ¶8. (C) Sudan/Darfur: Cohet affirmed French agreement on all points. He said France will continue to try to accelerate the realisation of a UN force and that it would continue to put pressure on Khartoum to cooperate with this effort. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm WHITE