Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS1394
2009-10-14 16:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #1394 2871641 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141641Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7362 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 2124 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 7296 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 6531 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 0292 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 0383 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 2742 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 3039 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1752
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001394
SIPDIS
IO/RHS:KRAZZOUK AND CENAV
IO/UNP:AMORRISON
NEA/IPA:JGIAUQUE
USUN/NY:ASCHEDLBAUER AND EGERMAIN
US MISSION GENEVA:MCASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2029
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 106423
B. PARIS 1300 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Kathleen Allegrone, Minister Counselor,
reason 1.4, b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001394
SIPDIS
IO/RHS:KRAZZOUK AND CENAV
IO/UNP:AMORRISON
NEA/IPA:JGIAUQUE
USUN/NY:ASCHEDLBAUER AND EGERMAIN
US MISSION GENEVA:MCASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2029
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 106423
B. PARIS 1300 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Kathleen Allegrone, Minister Counselor,
reason 1.4, b and d.
1. (C) Poloffs discussed Ref A demarche on October 14 with
MFA UN/IO officers Jean-Luc Delvert (human rights) and
Frederic Jung (UNSC Middle East issues) who confirmed that
France shares most of the U.S. perspective on the handling of
the Goldstone report. Jung confirmed that France would
likely raise Goldstone at the UNSC open session today, but
within the context of a broad range of issues that need to be
addressed, including progress on the peace process, the
renewed violence in Lebanon, and the settlements in the West
Bank. While the French officials agreed that strident
positions on Goldstone could become an unfortunate hindrance
to the peace process, if the report is handled in a
productive manner it could actually help the broader
negotiations and enhance confidence between the parties.
France does not want the report's assessment of Palestinian
actions downplayed and would like to see investigations by
the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, but recognizes that such
steps are unlikely. At the same time, Jung said that France,
and its EU partners, are delivering strong messages to Israel
that it needs to broaden the scope of its current
investigations and put in place the proper judicial
procedures to assure that the serious and credible human
rights issues raised in the report are addressed, citing, for
example, proportionality, target selection, and inappropriate
weapons.
2. (C) Regarding the handling of the report, France agrees
that it should remain at the HRC in Geneva, but believes it
will likely be raised at the General Assembly and perhaps
again at the UNSC. Jung explained that France and the EU
were prepared to abstain on the original resolution text, but
are now waiting to review the Palestinians' revised text,
which should be available "momentarily." France will consult
with its European partners on the new text before deciding
its stance, but it is unlikely, according to Jung, to be
revised enough to garner support. It will more likely result
in another vote of abstention if the text is not
substantially different from the previous draft.
RIVKIN
SIPDIS
IO/RHS:KRAZZOUK AND CENAV
IO/UNP:AMORRISON
NEA/IPA:JGIAUQUE
USUN/NY:ASCHEDLBAUER AND EGERMAIN
US MISSION GENEVA:MCASSAYRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2029
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KPAL IS FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 106423
B. PARIS 1300 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Kathleen Allegrone, Minister Counselor,
reason 1.4, b and d.
1. (C) Poloffs discussed Ref A demarche on October 14 with
MFA UN/IO officers Jean-Luc Delvert (human rights) and
Frederic Jung (UNSC Middle East issues) who confirmed that
France shares most of the U.S. perspective on the handling of
the Goldstone report. Jung confirmed that France would
likely raise Goldstone at the UNSC open session today, but
within the context of a broad range of issues that need to be
addressed, including progress on the peace process, the
renewed violence in Lebanon, and the settlements in the West
Bank. While the French officials agreed that strident
positions on Goldstone could become an unfortunate hindrance
to the peace process, if the report is handled in a
productive manner it could actually help the broader
negotiations and enhance confidence between the parties.
France does not want the report's assessment of Palestinian
actions downplayed and would like to see investigations by
the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, but recognizes that such
steps are unlikely. At the same time, Jung said that France,
and its EU partners, are delivering strong messages to Israel
that it needs to broaden the scope of its current
investigations and put in place the proper judicial
procedures to assure that the serious and credible human
rights issues raised in the report are addressed, citing, for
example, proportionality, target selection, and inappropriate
weapons.
2. (C) Regarding the handling of the report, France agrees
that it should remain at the HRC in Geneva, but believes it
will likely be raised at the General Assembly and perhaps
again at the UNSC. Jung explained that France and the EU
were prepared to abstain on the original resolution text, but
are now waiting to review the Palestinians' revised text,
which should be available "momentarily." France will consult
with its European partners on the new text before deciding
its stance, but it is unlikely, according to Jung, to be
revised enough to garner support. It will more likely result
in another vote of abstention if the text is not
substantially different from the previous draft.
RIVKIN