FRANCE SUPPORTIVE OF VOLUNTARY FUND FOR UNSCR 1540

UNCLAS PARIS 001654 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR TOM WUCHTE IN ISN/CPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER AORC UNSC KPAO FR SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTIVE OF VOLUNTARY FUND FOR UNSCR 1540 COMMITTEE REF: STATE 122725 ¶1. (SBU) During a December 7 meeting, MFA UNSCR 1540 Officer Paul Furia said France is strongly in favor of the U.S. proposal to establish a Voluntary Fund, as detailed in reftel, to provide resources to the UN's 1540 Committee to be used for technical assistance to UN member states in fulfilling the WMD non-proliferation obligations of UNSCR ¶1540. Furia added that the projects to be supported through a Voluntary Fund as suggested in the U.S. paper also correspond with French priorities. He added that France was especially interested in maximizing the effectiveness of country missions and was looking to the upcoming mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo as a test case for the program. ¶2. (SBU) However, despite French support for the establishment of a Voluntary Fund, Furia said current budget constraints would make it difficult for France to make a meaningful contribution. Instead, France was hoping for funds to be made available through the EU. These could come either directly from the Commission, which Furia believes has sufficient funding to meet at least part of the approximately $10 million required for the projects outlined in the U.S. paper, or through combined member state action through the European Council. RIVKIN