BMENA: FRENCH FM KOUCHNER LIKELY TO ATTEND, BUT

UNCLAS PARIS 001419 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/PI CHARLES KIAMIE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL FR SUBJECT: BMENA: FRENCH FM KOUCHNER LIKELY TO ATTEND, BUT NOT CONFIRMED REF: SECSTATE 108570 ¶1. (SBU) French Foreign Minister Kouchner plans to attend the BMENA Forum for the Future on November 2 - 3 in Marrakech but will require the French Parliament to change the date of hearings he is scheduled to attend on November 3 before he can offer a final confirmation, according to Michel Roche, Special Assistant to the French MFA Director for the Middle East. Poloff delivered reftel demarche October 21 to Roche, who explained that Kouchner agreed to attend the Parliamentary hearings before he learned about the BMENA Forum. The MFA has asked Parliamentary leaders to delay the hearings, Roche reported, and they expect a response imminently. Roche promised to inform us as soon as the MFA receives final confirmation that he will attend. Post will keep the department informed. RIVKIN