Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS1533
2009-11-19 09:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. PRIORITIES ON AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO2394 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #1533 3230908 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 190908Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7551 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0921 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001533
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. PRIORITIES ON AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 118297
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001533
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. PRIORITIES ON AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 118297
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche outlining U.S.
priorities for Afghanistan on November 17 to Francois Delmas,
a specialist assigned to the French MFA's Af-Pak cell. Delmas
responded that most of the priorities outlined in the
demarche were similar to French objectives, particularly the
focus on combatting corruption and improving local
governance. Delmas noted that, in the same spirit, FM
Kouchner had recently delivered to President Karzai a
"9-point plan" for improving governance. In addition, during
a meeting between SRAP Richard Holbrooke with his French
counterpart Thierry Mariani during a Paris visit on November
13, Mariani stated that France was closely following Karzai's
next steps, including his inauguration speech and
appointments to his cabinet. He added that the August
election had left a negative opinion in France that President
Karzai is not the duly elected popular representative of his
country and that Allies are finding themselves in a situation
with no exit. That said, reconciliation remains an important
issue for France, as the Afghan government encourages efforts
to welcome back former Taliban fighters. Mariani was
skeptical about the ability of Allies to provide additional
troops, saying that European troops are "depleted" and he
hoped that ISAF could find the necessary flexibility to move
some troops from "green" regions to zones where there is a
greater need for combat forces, as this would have an impact
equivalent to an additional 4000 to 5000 soldiers. Post will
follow-up to obtain additional details, including a copy of
Kouchner's "9-point plan."
PEKALA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. PRIORITIES ON AFGHANISTAN
REF: STATE 118297
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche outlining U.S.
priorities for Afghanistan on November 17 to Francois Delmas,
a specialist assigned to the French MFA's Af-Pak cell. Delmas
responded that most of the priorities outlined in the
demarche were similar to French objectives, particularly the
focus on combatting corruption and improving local
governance. Delmas noted that, in the same spirit, FM
Kouchner had recently delivered to President Karzai a
"9-point plan" for improving governance. In addition, during
a meeting between SRAP Richard Holbrooke with his French
counterpart Thierry Mariani during a Paris visit on November
13, Mariani stated that France was closely following Karzai's
next steps, including his inauguration speech and
appointments to his cabinet. He added that the August
election had left a negative opinion in France that President
Karzai is not the duly elected popular representative of his
country and that Allies are finding themselves in a situation
with no exit. That said, reconciliation remains an important
issue for France, as the Afghan government encourages efforts
to welcome back former Taliban fighters. Mariani was
skeptical about the ability of Allies to provide additional
troops, saying that European troops are "depleted" and he
hoped that ISAF could find the necessary flexibility to move
some troops from "green" regions to zones where there is a
greater need for combat forces, as this would have an impact
equivalent to an additional 4000 to 5000 soldiers. Post will
follow-up to obtain additional details, including a copy of
Kouchner's "9-point plan."
PEKALA