Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS456
2008-03-12 16:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
"LUKE-WARM" FRENCH-RUSSIAN MARCH 11 SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #0456 0721642 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121642Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2242 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6056 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 2215 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3861 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV RU CD SU FR
SUBJECT: "LUKE-WARM" FRENCH-RUSSIAN MARCH 11 SECURITY
TALKS; PRODUCE CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HELICOPTERS FOR EUFOR
IN CHAD
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV RU CD SU FR
SUBJECT: "LUKE-WARM" FRENCH-RUSSIAN MARCH 11 SECURITY
TALKS; PRODUCE CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HELICOPTERS FOR EUFOR
IN CHAD
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C//NF) In a meeting on March 12, French MFA officials
characterized French/Russian March 11 security talks as
"luke-warm," and producing almost no results. Alexandre
Vulic, the MFA's DAS-equivalent for Russia, told us that the
day-long annual talks between foreign and defense ministers,
known as the "French-Russian Council of Cooperation on
Security Issues," or "CCQS," addressed, but made no progress
on a number of key issues including EU-Russia defense
cooperation, missile defense in the framework of NATO, the
CFE Treaty, counterterrorism, non-profileration, Iran, as
well as regional crises such as Kosovo, Lebanon, the Middle
East, Chad, Darfur, and Afghanistan. Vulic described Russian
positions as generally predictable, adding that FM Lavrov was
in "typical form" (referring to his style of making
declarations),while "Minister Serdioukov was technically
present, but only in body."
2. (C//NF) According to Vulic, Lavrov informed the French
that Putin has made a political decision to provide France
with helicopters for the EUFOR's Chad mission, however
certain conditions would need to be met such as limited
Russian control over the use of the equipment and political
recognition for their contribution. The French noted that the
GOF would need to study the conditions more carefully before
accepting the offer. Vulic also highlighted French surprise
at a suggestion by Lavrov that Russia was reviewing the
question of the free flow of people and arms between mainland
Russia and its Kaliningrad enclave. The French and Russian
ministers held an uneventful press conference following their
meetings. Lavrov and Serdioukov were also received by
President Sarkozy, though only a short statement was
released, and there was no official media coverage. (Note:
Vulic did not attend with the Minister's lunch nor the
meeting with President Sarkozy, and was not fully briefed on
those meetings.)
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE ALSO FOR AF/C
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2018
TAGS: PARM PGOV RU CD SU FR
SUBJECT: "LUKE-WARM" FRENCH-RUSSIAN MARCH 11 SECURITY
TALKS; PRODUCE CONDITIONAL OFFER OF HELICOPTERS FOR EUFOR
IN CHAD
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASO
NS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C//NF) In a meeting on March 12, French MFA officials
characterized French/Russian March 11 security talks as
"luke-warm," and producing almost no results. Alexandre
Vulic, the MFA's DAS-equivalent for Russia, told us that the
day-long annual talks between foreign and defense ministers,
known as the "French-Russian Council of Cooperation on
Security Issues," or "CCQS," addressed, but made no progress
on a number of key issues including EU-Russia defense
cooperation, missile defense in the framework of NATO, the
CFE Treaty, counterterrorism, non-profileration, Iran, as
well as regional crises such as Kosovo, Lebanon, the Middle
East, Chad, Darfur, and Afghanistan. Vulic described Russian
positions as generally predictable, adding that FM Lavrov was
in "typical form" (referring to his style of making
declarations),while "Minister Serdioukov was technically
present, but only in body."
2. (C//NF) According to Vulic, Lavrov informed the French
that Putin has made a political decision to provide France
with helicopters for the EUFOR's Chad mission, however
certain conditions would need to be met such as limited
Russian control over the use of the equipment and political
recognition for their contribution. The French noted that the
GOF would need to study the conditions more carefully before
accepting the offer. Vulic also highlighted French surprise
at a suggestion by Lavrov that Russia was reviewing the
question of the free flow of people and arms between mainland
Russia and its Kaliningrad enclave. The French and Russian
ministers held an uneventful press conference following their
meetings. Lavrov and Serdioukov were also received by
President Sarkozy, though only a short statement was
released, and there was no official media coverage. (Note:
Vulic did not attend with the Minister's lunch nor the
meeting with President Sarkozy, and was not fully briefed on
those meetings.)
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
STAPLETON