FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. ON PNG DECISION BY BOLIVIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001793 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM BL ASEC FR SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. ON PNG DECISION BY BOLIVIA AND VENEZUELA REF: SECSTATE 99473 Classified By: PolMC Kathleen H. Allegrone for reasons 1.4 (B & D). ¶1. (C) The French Government agrees with the U.S. position from reftel demarche on the decision by Bolivia and Venezuela to declare our ambassadors persona non grata (PNG),according to MFA desk officers Aurelien Lepine-Kouas and Lionel Paradisi who spoke to poloff on September 22. The MFA noted that such actions by the GOV and GOB were "unreasonable" but unfortunately "not surprising." Lepine-Kuoas and Paradisi agreed that both Morales and Chavez were attempting to deflect public attention from internal problems by these actions. ¶2. (C) On Bolivia, desk officer Lepine-Kuoas noted the EU issued a statement on September 12 condemning clashes between government supporters and opposition. He said the GOF, jointly with the EU, has been working with other international partners to help promote stability and democracy among the disparate groups in the country. Lepine-Kuoas noted that the new French ambassador Antoine Grassin had just arrived in La Paz on September 7 and would bring new perspectives to advance EU strategy in Bolivia. ¶3. (C) On Venezuela, desk officer Paradisi noted the GOF continues to urge Chavez to be more moderate on regional and international issues. He said the GOF was encouraged by Venezuela's decision to date not to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Paradisi said the France, as EU President, would press Venezuela to continue to respect Georgia's territorial integrity. Chavez is scheduled to meet Sarkozy on September 26 following the Venezuelan President's visits to China and Russia. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Fran ce STAPLETON