Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS16
2008-01-04 18:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRENCH FM KOUCHNER'S JANUARY 1-2 VISIT TO PAKISTAN

Tags:  PGOV PINR PINS PREL PTER PARM SHUM IN PK FR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #0016/01 0041839
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 041839Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1593
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0729
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0565
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1166
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0040
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0017
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000016 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PREL PTER PARM SHUM IN PK FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH FM KOUCHNER'S JANUARY 1-2 VISIT TO PAKISTAN

REF: A. 07 STATE 170928

B. 07 PARIS 00003

PARIS 00000016 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political MC Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000016

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SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PREL PTER PARM SHUM IN PK FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH FM KOUCHNER'S JANUARY 1-2 VISIT TO PAKISTAN

REF: A. 07 STATE 170928

B. 07 PARIS 00003

PARIS 00000016 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political MC Josiah Rosenblatt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. As the first high-level Western official to
visit Pakistan since Benazir Bhutto's death, French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner carried a strong message to
President Musharraf that free and fair elections must go
forward as soon as possible. While in Pakistan January 1- 2,
Kouchner met with President Musharraf, Prime Minister
Mohammedmian Soomro and Foreign Minister Inam Ul Haq. To all
these officials he stressed France's grief and concern
following the killing of Benazir Bhutto. Kouchner also
underlined the importance of renewing shared commitment to
fighting terrorism and staying the course in Afghanistan. He
also advocated keeping democracy in Pakistan on track -- free
and fair elections soon, with transparency guaranteed by
international monitors. To his interlocutors, he voiced the
hope that political prisoners would soon be liberated, and
full press freedoms restored. Kouchner also met with
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) representatives, including
Benazir Bhutto's husband, and with leaders of other political
parties. END SUMMARY.


READ-OUT OF KOUCHNER'S VISIT TO PAKISTAN
--------------

2. (C) Political Minister Counselor and PolOff met with
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's cabinet advisor on
Pakistan, Eva Nguyen Binh on January 4 to get a read-out of
Kouchner's January 1-2 trip to Pakistan. Kouchner spoke to
Secretary Rice and FM Miliband upon his arrival in Pakistan.

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Nguyen Binh reported that he then also called Slovenian
Foreign Minister Rupel to ask if he could speak on behalf of
the EU, and clear the substance of his message with Rupel
(since Slovenia currently holds the EU presidency). Rupel

approved Kouchner's message and his speaking on behalf of the
EU. Kouchner, who Nguyen Bihn reported had met Bhutto and
saw her as an important political force at an important time
even though her political dynasty was marred by controversy,
requested that he be allowed to lay a wreath on Bhutto's
grave. Pakistani authorities refused Kouchner's request for
security reasons -- and because they felt it would set a
precedent, allowing all foreign leaders to visit Bhutto's
grave. Kouchner laid a wreath at the site of Bhutto's
assassination in Rawalpindi. While Kouchner used the visit
to express sympathy over Bhutto's death, he also pushed for
elections and a transparent investigation into Bhutto's death
in every meeting he attended.

MUSHARRAF AND ELECTIONS
--------------

3. (C) During a 45 minute meeting Kouchner pushed Musharraf
for as short as possible a delay in the
elections. As the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has accepted
February 18 date, the issue appears to have been resolved.
Musharraf, who was very calm and relaxed during the meeting,
told Kouchner that it was the electoral council's decision as
to when to hold elections but added that the elections needed
to be delayed in order to observe the Muslim month of
mourning. Kouchner also stressed that a team of
international observers should be allowed to monitor
elections. Musharraf said that he welcomes observers. An EU
election team of about 60 observers arrived in Pakistan the
day that Bhutto was assassinated and will stay in place until
elections are held. Nguyen Binh reported that France will
beef up this team.

MUSHARRAF AND INVESTIGATION INTO BHUTTO'S DEATH
-------------- -


4. (C) Kouchner urged Musharraf to do everything possible
to shed light on the circumstances of Bhutto's assassination,
saying it would bring about greater political stability and
transparency. Kouchner offered French assistance in an
investigation into Bhutto's murder. The Pakistanis have not
responded to this offer. Kouchner has publicly stated the
unlikelihood of a UN investigation into Bhutto's murder.
Nguyen Binh stated that the French agree with the GOP that a
UN investigation - slow and slow and bureaucratically
cumbersome -- would not be desirable. However, an
internationally supported investigation must get underway
immediately, and it must have credibility in order to calm
rather than exacerbate tensions. Nguyen Bihn reported

PARIS 00000016 002.2 OF 002


Kouchner expressed interest in a "personality panel" that
would be composed of independent, international experts.
Nguyen Bihn admitted that an "international investigation" of
the kind demanded by the PPP raises difficult questions of
legal status and investigative authority in Pakistan.

MUSHARRAF AND AFGHANISTAN
--------------

5. (C) Musharraf put the blame for the assassination
squarely on the Taliban, citing an intercepted congratulatory
phone call from Baitullah Mehsud, a Muslim extremist with
links to the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Kouchner brought up the
Afghan border region and stressed that France does not want
to see the area destabilized. Musharraf responded that
Pakistan "wants to cooperate in all areas, but they need to
be understood. . . a three way approach is needed to
Afghanistan - military, social and economic." Lamenting
Pakistan's fate without taking any of the responsibility,
Musharraf summed up his view: "the trouble is in Afghanistan,
and Pakistan is the victim."

MUSHARRAF AND POLITICAL PRISONERS AND PRESS FREEDOM
-------------- --------------

6. (C) Kouchner also pushed Musharraf to free all political
prisoners. He mentioned specifically the
President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan.
Musharraf responded that a release would stir up political
parties. Kouchner also called for a full restoration of
freedom of the press.

MEETING WITH PAKISTAN PEOPLES PARTY
--------------

7. (C) In contrast to Musharraf's calm, the PPP officials
Kouchner met with blamed the government for not providing
security for Bhutto and were harshly critical of its response
to the assassination, including its handling of the forensics
and its shifting public statements. PPP officials made clear
their belief that Musharraf's entourage, if not Musharraf
himself; was likely responsible for the assassination.
Nguyen Binh observed PPP members anger, however, does not
translate into a call for instability. She reported that
party members expressed a desire for partnership and progress
as elections move forward.

COMMENT -- THE FRENCH WANT TO KEEP WORKING CLOSELY WITH US ON
PAKISTAN
-------------- --------------

8. (C) The French hope to stay in contact with us on this
issue, and Nguyen Binh suggested that Kouchner might call
Secretary Rice again early next week to report on his visit

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and discuss the evolving situation, including specifically
the investigation of the assassination and the integrity of
the election campaign.END COMMENT.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm


PEKALA