Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS745
2008-04-18 13:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH PROMOTE COMPROMISE, BUT WON'T PRESSURE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #0745 1091337 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181337Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2668 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000745
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PROMOTE COMPROMISE, BUT WON'T PRESSURE
GREECE ON MACEDONIA NAME ISSUE
REF: STATE 40462
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000745
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PROMOTE COMPROMISE, BUT WON'T PRESSURE
GREECE ON MACEDONIA NAME ISSUE
REF: STATE 40462
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) In response to reftel, Post has raised with various
French officials the need to urge the Greeks to renew their
commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution to the
Macedonia name issue. However, in the post-Bucharest
environment, French officials have not retreated from their
earlier position on Macedonia; namely, that they hope a
compromise will be found on the name issue, but they refuse
to put any pressure on Greece. In general, officials in the
Elysee, MOD and MFA are sensitive to Greece's domestic
political considerations and reiterate that it is up to
Macedonia to make the necessary compromises, as Macedonia is
the one seeking to join the Alliance. In an April 18
meeting with Francois Richier, Strategic Affairs Advisor to
President Sarkozy, he stated that the question is not one of
capability or Balkan stability, but rather a question of
solidarity with a key ally. He noted that in the past,
Greece has stood firmly with France on issues when France
made it clear that its vital national interests were at
stake. France intends to do the same for its Greek ally in
this case. He further noted that some of the proposals
previously rejected by Macedonia had been quite reasonable,
and it is up to Skopje to make an effort. These views were
echoed in the MFA when Nicolas Niemtchinow, DAS-equivalent in
the Strategic Affairs bureau, repeatedly emphasized that the
alliance cannot "twist the arm" of a fellow ally, adding
that, as enlargement is subject to national ratification by
member countries, it is not in the interest of the Alliance
to force the Greek government to agree to a compromise that
it cannot sustain domestically. These comments echo
statements in President Sarkozy's speech at Bucharest, in
which he stated that when joining an alliance, a country must
make "a minimum of effort" (referring to Macedonia). The
above views are widely held in the Elysee, MFA and MOD, and
Post sees little possibility that this posture will change in
the near future, although we continue to urge our
interlocutors to advocate a compromise with both Greece and
Macedonia.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
PEKALA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV MK GR FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PROMOTE COMPROMISE, BUT WON'T PRESSURE
GREECE ON MACEDONIA NAME ISSUE
REF: STATE 40462
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) In response to reftel, Post has raised with various
French officials the need to urge the Greeks to renew their
commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution to the
Macedonia name issue. However, in the post-Bucharest
environment, French officials have not retreated from their
earlier position on Macedonia; namely, that they hope a
compromise will be found on the name issue, but they refuse
to put any pressure on Greece. In general, officials in the
Elysee, MOD and MFA are sensitive to Greece's domestic
political considerations and reiterate that it is up to
Macedonia to make the necessary compromises, as Macedonia is
the one seeking to join the Alliance. In an April 18
meeting with Francois Richier, Strategic Affairs Advisor to
President Sarkozy, he stated that the question is not one of
capability or Balkan stability, but rather a question of
solidarity with a key ally. He noted that in the past,
Greece has stood firmly with France on issues when France
made it clear that its vital national interests were at
stake. France intends to do the same for its Greek ally in
this case. He further noted that some of the proposals
previously rejected by Macedonia had been quite reasonable,
and it is up to Skopje to make an effort. These views were
echoed in the MFA when Nicolas Niemtchinow, DAS-equivalent in
the Strategic Affairs bureau, repeatedly emphasized that the
alliance cannot "twist the arm" of a fellow ally, adding
that, as enlargement is subject to national ratification by
member countries, it is not in the interest of the Alliance
to force the Greek government to agree to a compromise that
it cannot sustain domestically. These comments echo
statements in President Sarkozy's speech at Bucharest, in
which he stated that when joining an alliance, a country must
make "a minimum of effort" (referring to Macedonia). The
above views are widely held in the Elysee, MFA and MOD, and
Post sees little possibility that this posture will change in
the near future, although we continue to urge our
interlocutors to advocate a compromise with both Greece and
Macedonia.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
PEKALA