Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS2341
2008-12-30 16:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE ON POSSIBLE RUSSIA - UKRAINE GAS SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO7282 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #2341 3651650 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 301650Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5160 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002341
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PREL UP EU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE ON POSSIBLE RUSSIA - UKRAINE GAS SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
REF: STATE 134475
Classified by Econ Counselor Stuart Dwyer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002341
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PREL UP EU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE ON POSSIBLE RUSSIA - UKRAINE GAS SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
REF: STATE 134475
Classified by Econ Counselor Stuart Dwyer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Econ Counselor raised reftel points on the Russia/Ukraine
gas dispute with MFA Acting Director for Economic and Financial
Affairs Philippe Meunier on 12/30. Meunier said guidance issued by
the MFA on 12/22 remained extant: France had been in touch with other
EU member states as well as the future Czech presidency on the issue;
both Russia and Ukraine had indicated their commercial dispute would
not/not have an impact on Russian gas supplies transiting Ukraine to
the EU; France called on Russia and Ukraine to respect international
commitments as supplier and transit countries.
2. (C) In the short-term the current situation was less worrisome for
EU member states than had been the January 2006 supply disruptions,
Meunier thought. Stocks are more abundant and the economic downturn
had resulted in slack demand. Moreover, France was "taking at face
value" assurances from Russia and Ukraine that supplies to the EU
would not be interrupted by the current dispute. Communication with
Russia had been reasonably strong, including via the EU/Russia
early-warning mechanism for oil and gas supply shocks that had been
established in 2007. A January 9 meeting between Russia and the
Commission would provide further opportunity for discussion. The
Russian approach to energy issues -- including as relates to Ukraine
-- had been more "economic and technical," less political, since the
Georgia crisis, Meunier thought. During the October Paris meeting of
the EU - Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Energy the GOR had
even suggested Ukraine be brought into the early-warning mechanism.
3. (C) France shared U.S. views on long-term underlying challenges,
Meunier said. Russia-Ukraine contracting arrangements were
"incomprehensible." The GOF hoped Ukraine's desire to accede to the
Energy Community Treaty, and the commitments to energy sector reform
it entailed, would help encourage necessary changes in the sector.
Meunier was receptive to the call for strong U.S./EU cooperation on
energy in Ukraine (though non-committal on a formal trilateral energy
dialogue). While the current gas dispute was important, the broader
range of issues addressed in Ukraine's current IMF program was the
key to stabilization, he suggested, and warranted the international
community's continued close attention.
PEKALA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PREL UP EU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE ON POSSIBLE RUSSIA - UKRAINE GAS SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
REF: STATE 134475
Classified by Econ Counselor Stuart Dwyer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Econ Counselor raised reftel points on the Russia/Ukraine
gas dispute with MFA Acting Director for Economic and Financial
Affairs Philippe Meunier on 12/30. Meunier said guidance issued by
the MFA on 12/22 remained extant: France had been in touch with other
EU member states as well as the future Czech presidency on the issue;
both Russia and Ukraine had indicated their commercial dispute would
not/not have an impact on Russian gas supplies transiting Ukraine to
the EU; France called on Russia and Ukraine to respect international
commitments as supplier and transit countries.
2. (C) In the short-term the current situation was less worrisome for
EU member states than had been the January 2006 supply disruptions,
Meunier thought. Stocks are more abundant and the economic downturn
had resulted in slack demand. Moreover, France was "taking at face
value" assurances from Russia and Ukraine that supplies to the EU
would not be interrupted by the current dispute. Communication with
Russia had been reasonably strong, including via the EU/Russia
early-warning mechanism for oil and gas supply shocks that had been
established in 2007. A January 9 meeting between Russia and the
Commission would provide further opportunity for discussion. The
Russian approach to energy issues -- including as relates to Ukraine
-- had been more "economic and technical," less political, since the
Georgia crisis, Meunier thought. During the October Paris meeting of
the EU - Russia Permanent Partnership Council on Energy the GOR had
even suggested Ukraine be brought into the early-warning mechanism.
3. (C) France shared U.S. views on long-term underlying challenges,
Meunier said. Russia-Ukraine contracting arrangements were
"incomprehensible." The GOF hoped Ukraine's desire to accede to the
Energy Community Treaty, and the commitments to energy sector reform
it entailed, would help encourage necessary changes in the sector.
Meunier was receptive to the call for strong U.S./EU cooperation on
energy in Ukraine (though non-committal on a formal trilateral energy
dialogue). While the current gas dispute was important, the broader
range of issues addressed in Ukraine's current IMF program was the
key to stabilization, he suggested, and warranted the international
community's continued close attention.
PEKALA