Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS138
2008-01-25 15:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE CONSIDERING WTO IMPLICATIONS BEFORE BANNING
how-toVZCZCXRO1341 PP RUEHAG RUEHDT RUEHPB RUEHROV DE RUEHFR #0138 0251542 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251542Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1779 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0362 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1624 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1748 RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 0232 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0654 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1175 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2199 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1461 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0226 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2626 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0231 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1460 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 1362
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM BM FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE CONSIDERING WTO IMPLICATIONS BEFORE BANNING
BURMESE GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: 08 STATE 05276
Classified By: Pol M/C Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000138
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM BM FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE CONSIDERING WTO IMPLICATIONS BEFORE BANNING
BURMESE GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: 08 STATE 05276
Classified By: Pol M/C Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on January 24 to
MFA desk officer Jeremy Petite. Petite responded that France
is currently considering WTO implications of a ban and will
make a decision in line with EU partners. When questioned
about France's willingness to sanction the three Burmese
state-owned banks that handle foreign exchange transactions,
Petite reiterated that FM Kouchner's interest lies in
"touching the generals' accounts" and added that the GOF
worries that sanctioning those banks could destabilize the
country. In an aside, Petite added that the French Embassy
in Rangoon processes its foreign exchange transactions
through the three state-owned banks, suggesting such
sanctions would negatively impact the ability of the Embassy
to fund its own activities.
2. (C) Petite clarified that the European Council's October
2007 decision to restrict investment and trade with Burma in
the mining and logging sectors will be adopted soon.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
PEKALA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/MLS AARON COPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD PHUM BM FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE CONSIDERING WTO IMPLICATIONS BEFORE BANNING
BURMESE GEMS AND HARDWOODS
REF: 08 STATE 05276
Classified By: Pol M/C Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on January 24 to
MFA desk officer Jeremy Petite. Petite responded that France
is currently considering WTO implications of a ban and will
make a decision in line with EU partners. When questioned
about France's willingness to sanction the three Burmese
state-owned banks that handle foreign exchange transactions,
Petite reiterated that FM Kouchner's interest lies in
"touching the generals' accounts" and added that the GOF
worries that sanctioning those banks could destabilize the
country. In an aside, Petite added that the French Embassy
in Rangoon processes its foreign exchange transactions
through the three state-owned banks, suggesting such
sanctions would negatively impact the ability of the Embassy
to fund its own activities.
2. (C) Petite clarified that the European Council's October
2007 decision to restrict investment and trade with Burma in
the mining and logging sectors will be adopted soon.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
PEKALA