FRANCE BACKS AMANO FOR IAEA POST

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000696 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2019 TAGS: AORC KNNP IAEA PREL FR SUBJECT: FRANCE BACKS AMANO FOR IAEA POST REF: A. STATE 46302 B. 5/20 EMAIL YOUNG-EUR/WE Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Greg D'Elia. Reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) France squarely backs Yukiya Amano of Japan to be the next IAEA Director-General (DG),post heard May 20 from MFA IO PDAS-Equivalent Marc Giacomini and again on May 26 from MFA Strategic Affairs PDAS-Equivalent Jean-Hugue Simon-Michel. ¶2. (C/NF) Simon-Michel, surprised at the repeat demarche, stated emphatically to Acting Pol Counselor that France had supported Amano from the outset and had so informed Japan. Abdul Minty of South Africa was not a constructive alternative, he stated. Moreover, France was concerned that the divisive campaign could indirectly lead to a fourth term for current IAEA DG El Baradei, an outcome that Simon-Michel twice underscored as undesirable. The UK, in Simon-Michel's view, had muddied the waters, largely because London took a more positive view of Minty on account of his past role in the anti-apartheid movement, but also because London doubted Amano's competency. Simon-Michel suggested there was also an element of miscalculation by some, including London, with regard to the feasibility of a European alternative. Of the three Europeans in play, the Slovene candidate had "no chance," whereas both the Spanish and Belgium options, while acceptable, were unlikely. Simon-Michel admitted France would have been content with the election of Belgian Jean-Pol Poncelet (who has associations with Areva) but had early recognized this was not going to happen. Amano, in sum, was the best choice and he enjoyed full French support, according to Simon-Michel. PEKALA