Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK667
2007-08-14 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

FRENCH PERMREP PLEDGES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH USUN

Tags:  PREL PTER KPKO UNSC IR KO LE SU 
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VZCZCXRO9821
OO RUEHROV
DE RUCNDT #0667 2261552
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141552Z AUG 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2449
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000667 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER KPKO UNSC IR KO LE SU
SUBJECT: FRENCH PERMREP PLEDGES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH USUN

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad, per 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000667

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER KPKO UNSC IR KO LE SU
SUBJECT: FRENCH PERMREP PLEDGES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH USUN

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad, per 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Amb Khalilzad greeted newly-arrived French PermRep
Jean-Maurice Ripert for a courtesy call on August 10. Ripert
began the meeting by declaring bluntly that U.S.-French
relations "are not what they should be," and that although
the two countries might disagree, the "ways of disagreement
should be different" than in the past. Noting his several
past assignments in the U.S. and his close ties to French FM
Kouchner, he said his assignment to New York signaled a
desire to enhance U.S.-French cooperation at the UN. Ripert
repeatedly offered to convene meetings of P-3 or Western
countries to discuss management reform and the focus of the
Human Rights Council (HRC),issues he described as joint
U.S.-French priorities.


2. (C) Amb Khalilzad appealed for greater cooperation from
Europe on UN reform. He argued that any reform package must
be comprehensive, focusing on reform of UN management as well
as the UNSC, in order to succeed. Ripert agreed but
emphasized that the UNSC must reform now lest it lose its
legitimacy in the eyes of much of the developing world.
Noting that he had just concluded a tour in Geneva, Ripert
urged the U.S. not to re-open the agenda of the Human Rights
Council (HRC). While decrying the shortcomings of the
agenda, he insisted it was "more balanced" than before, and
argued the U.S. could still accomplish goals like
establishing a Special Rapporteur position for Cuba under the
current agenda. Ripert said the summit that France plans to
host during its Presidency of the Council in September would
focus on "crisis management" by the UNSC with a special
emphasis on Africa. He specifically mentioned the effect of
water shortages in Africa as a threat to international peace
and security.


3. (C) The Ambassadors briefly touched on the major issues
currently before the UNSC. Ripert declared that it was now
"very clear" that France would be with the U.S. on the
Iranian nuclear issue. While the sanctions regime is having
an effect, if the UNSC wants to "touch" people in power in
Iran, it will have to do so "where it hurts" -- in the
pocketbook. On Kosovo, Ripert argued in favor of engaging
Serbia, because its views on Kosovo are not the same as
Russia. He acknowledged that Europe must convince Serbia
that EU accession is possible and warned there would be
"nothing worse" than a self-proclaimed Kosovo recognized only
by the U.S. and a few Europeans. On Lebanon, Ripert argued
that the upcoming extension of UNIFIL's mandate should be
"strictly technical" and avoid contentious issues like
illegal weapons transfers into Lebanon. Turning to Darfur,
Ripert praised U.S. leadership in the Council and agreed to
maintain pressure on the Secretariat to meet its deployment
benchmarks quickly.
KHALILZAD