ORAL MESSAGE URGING FM KOUCHNER TO ATTEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 055375 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2018 TAGS: PREL EAID FR IZ SW EUN SUBJECT: ORAL MESSAGE URGING FM KOUCHNER TO ATTEND STOCKHOLM ICI MINISTERIAL REF: A. STATE 43799 ¶B. PARIS 960 ¶C. PARIS 901 Classified By: NEA DAS Lawrence E. Butler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) This is an action request: see para 4, below. ¶2. (C) Per reftel State 43799, Sweden is hosting the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) Ministerial Meeting in Stockholm on May 29. The Swedish Foreign Minister of State has requested USG support for Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt's efforts to encourage French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to attend the Meeting. Kouchner has demurred on attending, saying most recently that he would be in meetings with French parliamentarians. Earlier he had suggested he would be in northern Iraq (see Paris 960). ¶3. (C) Swedish FM Bildt and the Department believe that FM Kouchner's presence at the Stockholm meeting is important. France, the UK and Sweden are the three main supporters for more active EU engagement in Iraq. Also, France is now part of the EU Presidency troika with Sweden, so Kouchner's presence also helps keep the EU focused. On that score, the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Mr. Javier Solana, will attend the Stockholm ICI Ministerial. ¶4. (C) Action Request. Embassy Paris is requested to pass a personal, oral message to FM Kouchner from Secretary of State Rice urging his presence in Stockholm: Dear Bernard, I am looking forward to seeing you in Stockholm. Your presence in support of Carl Bildt and David Miliband with the Europeans is so appreciated. And I am sure Prime Minister Maliki will value your presence there. I, also, look forward to meeting with you; we have much to discuss. Condoleezza 5 (C) The Department would appreciate delivery of this message as soon as possible during daylight hours today, Friday, May 23. RICE