SOMALIA: FRENCH SUPPORT ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS, MAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000574 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2018 TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT KCRM SO XA XW FR SUBJECT: SOMALIA: FRENCH SUPPORT ANTI-PIRACY EFFORTS, MAY WANT TO EXPAND ROLE OF CTF-150 REF: STATE 32432 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, 1.4 (b/d ). ¶1. (C) France continues to support anti-piracy efforts concerning Somalia, MFA Somalia desk officer Thierry Caboche said on March 27, in response to reftel. He expressed appreciation for reftel's detailed points and for the USG's understanding of France's activities in the region. Caboche said that he would discuss the matter further with colleagues, especially Franck Paris (to whom we had furnished a copy of reftel points),the IO desk officer handling African issues at the UN. Caboche said that, in keeping with standard GOF practice, France's UN delegation would take the lead for the GOF in working on a later UNSC resolution. ¶2. (C) Although not going into detail, Caboche said that the GOF had been studying the Somali piracy issue and that one possible initiative could involve an expanded role for CTF-150. He did not offer specifics, indicating that French consideration was at an early stage. Caboche said that he would update us should French thinking solidify. He also promised to provide feedback on reftel demarche after he and his colleagues have had a chance to consider it further. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm PEKALA