FRANCE AND THE WAY FORWARD ON GEORGIA'S SEPARATIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002343 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 TAGS: PREL FR GG RS SUBJECT: FRANCE AND THE WAY FORWARD ON GEORGIA'S SEPARATIST REGIONS REF: A. STATE 134559 ¶B. PARIS 2284 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kathy Allegrone, for reason s 1.4. (b),(d). ¶1. (SBU) We conveyed ref a points December 29 to French MFA acting DAS-equivalent for Russia/CIS Affairs Eric Millet and to the office of vacationing French presidency adviser for Russia/the Americas Damien Loras. Millet said he would distribute the points among interested offices at the MFA but offered no substantive response. Embassy will seek meetings as early as possible in the new year with MFA and presidency contacts to follow up. ¶2. (C) Comment: Stopping the Russian advance in August and putting in place a mechanism for discussing the future of the disputed territories remains a highlight of Sarkozy,s EU presidency. Sarkozy wants to see it implemented and is likely to stay personally engaged long past the end of France,s EU presidency on December 31. Ref a points, therefore, should provide us a useful starting point for an ongoing dialogue with the French about carrots and sticks we might consider applying. We would note, however, that the Elysee and possibly the MFA are likely to remind us, per ref b, of their perception that Georgian President Saakashvili sometimes behaves erratically and that the Georgian government is not above the occasional provocation (e.g., at Perevi). End comment. PEKALA