Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS1296
2009-09-23 15:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRANCE APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY TO NORTH KOREA

Tags:  PREL KNNP KN KS XB FR 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7194
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2083
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6492
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 1801
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3079
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.

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