FRANCE APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001296 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/K AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP KN KS XB FR SUBJECT: FRANCE APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA Classified By: Ambassador Charles H. Rivkin for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 22, the French MFA hosted a hastily arranged briefing for the Ambassadors of China, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. on a mission President Sarkozy has asked former French Culture Minister Jack Lang to undertake regarding North Korea. The French explained Sarkozy took this decision in the context of strong French support for dialogue with North Korea, the Six-Party Talks and the UNSC resolutions condemning North Korea,s violations. Sarkozy asked Lang to travel to the four countries represented around the table in the coming weeks in advance of a hoped for visit to Pyongyang in early November. Lang hopes to visit Washington on October 23 for high-level consultations as part of this mission. Post supports this request to ensure USG concerns are clearly conveyed to the new French Envoy and welcomes additional coordinated guidance. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On September 22, the new French MFA A/S for EAP issues Paul Jean-Ortiz and PDAS Frederic La Planche, accompanied by Presidential advisor for Asia Bertrand Lothalary, briefed the Ambassadors of China, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. on a mission President Sarkozy has asked former French Culture Minister Jack Lang to undertake regarding North Korea. Lang stressed that Sarkozy has asked him to be his personal envoy for this series of visits in order to develop a better understanding of the North Korean situation. He noted that France is one of only two EU countries that do not have diplomatic relations with North Korea. Sarkozy, he went on, has both a personal and a political attachment to this effort, in which the French hope to assess how France, working with key players, might be able to offer assistance in addressing the North Korean problem. Lang emphasized that the briefing was designed to ensure full transparency and loyalty to allies and friends. The only follow on currently envisaged is that Lang will provide an assessment of the situation to Sarkozy and to the EU. ¶3. (C) Lang plans to visit Tokyo October 3-4 and from there go to Seoul. Lang has a commitment to be at New York University in the middle of October and hopes to arrange meetings in Washington sometime between October 18 and the end of the month. He will travel to Beijing November 1 and then hopefully go on to Pyongyang. The French will be approaching capitals in the next few days to discuss the mission and to seek high-level briefings for Lang. They stressed that although the appointment is official, it has not yet been announced, and they urged us not to release the information to the press. ¶4. (C) All four Ambassadors welcomed the initiative, stressed the need to stay in sync and supportive of the international effort to address North Korea and the Six-Party talks. All offered to help facilitate a visit to their capitals. The Japanese Ambassador cautioned that France has an important card to play and should not lightly opt to establish relations with North Korea. Responding to Ambassador Rivkin,s question, the French explained that Lang would not be traveling to Moscow, but assured the Ambassadors that the Russian Embassy was also informed about the pending mission. The Chinese Ambassador emphasized the need to support the policy of denuclearization on the peninsula. ¶5. (C) The French expressed deep appreciation for the Ambassadors, flexibility in making themselves available to meet with Lang on short notice. They noted that Lang,s appointment will be announced in the coming days and seemed unaware that reports of the appointment have already appeared in at least one leading French weekly. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Sarkozy has shown a growing penchant for reaching out to parliamentarians, from both sides of the aisle, to act as Special Envoys on specific issues. Earlier this year, he named Lang, a leading Socialist who was instrumental in winning a key Parliamentary vote for Sarkozy last year, as special envoy to Cuba. He has also named two successive Parliamentarians, albeit from his own party, as Special Envoy to Afghanistan. North Korea has not been a key foreign policy interest of France, although France has been supportive of international efforts to deal with the North Korean issue. We do not know what triggered this initiative, or its timing. We might speculate, however, that with the focus in coming months on non-proliferation and particularly on the actions of Iran and North Korea, Sarkozy, who has strong views about addressing non-proliferation issues, may have decided that it was high time for France to have direct contact and higher visibility in the North Korean issue. PARIS 00001296 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) RECOMMENDATION: Lang would seem to be an unusual choice for Special Envoy, as he brings no particular expertise in the area to the mission; however, he is a respected friend of Sarkozy with parliamentary experience as head of the foreign affairs committee. We recommend that he be given high-level briefings when in Washington on October 23 so that our position, and our concerns, can be made crystal clear in advance of an expected visit to Pyongyang. Post welcomes guidance on a coordinated response to this French initiative. RIVKIN