Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS1996
2008-10-30 16:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO9254 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #1996 3041644 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 301644Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4696 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001996
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EFIN EUN FR BO
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH
BELARUS AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR KATHY ALLEGRONE FOR REASONS
1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001996
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EFIN EUN FR BO
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH
BELARUS AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR KATHY ALLEGRONE FOR REASONS
1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) French MFA DAS-equivalent for Eurasian affairs
Alexandre Vulic told us October 24 that, although the recent
elections in Belarus did not meet any democratic standards,
the EU intends to proceed with small steps to ease Belarus'
isolation in response to other gestures Minsk has taken, most
notably the release of prominent political prisoners. He
reminded us that the EU had recently relaxed some visa
restrictions on Belarus but emphasized that this only means
the EU wants to talk to Minsk, not that Belarusian President
"Lukashenko will be in Paris tomorrow." Vulic asserted that,
despite this loosening of visa restrictions, France has not
advocated for any change in the current sanctions on Belarus.
2. (C) Vulic noted that Paris, without being nave, wants
to test Lukashenko,s stated desire to reform Belarus and
make it a more democratic country. He said that since
Russia,s military actions in Georgia last August there has
been a greater push at the French MFA to engage more with
Belarus to give Minsk other options besides Moscow (albeit
with no expectation better ties to the EU would induce a
break with Russia). France also wants to help Belarus
weather the current financial crisis, which has already hit
that country hard.
3. (C) Turning to the loan Belarus has requested from the
IMF, Vulic stated that the EU's assent will be based on
Belarus' "good behavior" to include Belarus not recognizing
Abkhazia and South Ossetia; not installing a Russian weapons
system, which Moscow has proposed as a counter to the
installation of a U.S. missile defense system in Poland; more
freedom for the media; election reform based on OSCE
guidelines; more respect for civil liberties; and cessation
of harassment of political opponents. Paris has also
considered lowering visa fees for Belarusian citizens to
travel to Europe, which would be helpful because it could
give a lot of younger Belarusians exposure to an open,
democratic society that could over time help trigger change
in Belarus.
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EFIN EUN FR BO
SUBJECT: FRENCH MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH
BELARUS AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR KATHY ALLEGRONE FOR REASONS
1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) French MFA DAS-equivalent for Eurasian affairs
Alexandre Vulic told us October 24 that, although the recent
elections in Belarus did not meet any democratic standards,
the EU intends to proceed with small steps to ease Belarus'
isolation in response to other gestures Minsk has taken, most
notably the release of prominent political prisoners. He
reminded us that the EU had recently relaxed some visa
restrictions on Belarus but emphasized that this only means
the EU wants to talk to Minsk, not that Belarusian President
"Lukashenko will be in Paris tomorrow." Vulic asserted that,
despite this loosening of visa restrictions, France has not
advocated for any change in the current sanctions on Belarus.
2. (C) Vulic noted that Paris, without being nave, wants
to test Lukashenko,s stated desire to reform Belarus and
make it a more democratic country. He said that since
Russia,s military actions in Georgia last August there has
been a greater push at the French MFA to engage more with
Belarus to give Minsk other options besides Moscow (albeit
with no expectation better ties to the EU would induce a
break with Russia). France also wants to help Belarus
weather the current financial crisis, which has already hit
that country hard.
3. (C) Turning to the loan Belarus has requested from the
IMF, Vulic stated that the EU's assent will be based on
Belarus' "good behavior" to include Belarus not recognizing
Abkhazia and South Ossetia; not installing a Russian weapons
system, which Moscow has proposed as a counter to the
installation of a U.S. missile defense system in Poland; more
freedom for the media; election reform based on OSCE
guidelines; more respect for civil liberties; and cessation
of harassment of political opponents. Paris has also
considered lowering visa fees for Belarusian citizens to
travel to Europe, which would be helpful because it could
give a lot of younger Belarusians exposure to an open,
democratic society that could over time help trigger change
in Belarus.
STAPLETON