FRENCH ON SERBIA: QUIET OPPOSITION TO ICJ, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001647

SIPDIS

EUR/SCE FOR SHIRATORI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH ON SERBIA: QUIET OPPOSITION TO ICJ, AND
OTHER UPDATES

REF: A. STATE 91908

B. PARIS POINTS FOR AUGUST 1

C. BRUCHON EMAIL TO EUR-SCE-DL ON AUGUST 7

D. STATE 82494

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen Allegrone for reas
ons 1.4 (B & D).


1. (C) On August 28, MFA desk officer for Serbia Felix
Buttin, along with Kosovo desk officer Herve Boisguillaume,
provided updates in French thinking on the Serbian proposal
for an ICJ resolution, progress in the EU's interim trade
agreement with Serbia, and the lifting of the Karadzic
family's travel restrictions. In response to reftel A,
Buttin reported that France, like us, does not wish to make a
show of public opposition to Serbia's proposal. He said the
French are not demarching UNGA members on the subject, but
are waiting to see whose opinions (including perhaps the
Serbs) shift with the recent developments in Georgia. He
noted that France, like the U.S., explicitly rejects any
parallels between Kosovo and South Ossetia or Abkhazia. He
also noted an explicit desire to "dedramatize" the subject in
New York.


2. (C) Following on ref B, Buttin said no movement will
occur regarding the EU,s interim trade agreement with Serbia
before ICTY Chief Prosecutor Brammerz's trip to Belgrade
September 10-11. Buttin said that Kouchner's travels to
Belgrade are still on hold due to the busy pace of events,
but that they could meet as soon as on the margins of UNGA.


3. (C) Closing the loop regarding Karadzic family travel
restrictions (ref D),Boisguillaume said the COREPER will
move in early September to implement the EU's early August
decision to lift the restrictions. Boisguillaume said that
in the future the French will keep in mind that further
coordination with the U.S. would be helpful before any such
decisions are made. He expressed regret that he had been
unable to get more clarity on the situation as it unfolded
(ref C),noting that the EU had moved very fast in committee
after the High Representative for Bosnia's July 30 decision
to return the family's travel documents. He said the High
Rep's July 30 announcement said the decision had been taken
after consultation with "relevant international... partners
and institutions." Those "consultations" did not include the
French Embassy, however, and Boisguillaume questioned whether
it included the U.S. Embassy, laughing with Buttin that
French intelligence services were also caught off guard by
the announcement.


Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce

PEKALA