Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS696
2009-05-26 17:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRANCE BACKS AMANO FOR IAEA POST
how-toVZCZCXRO3100 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHFR #0696 1461718 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261718Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6305 INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE 0702 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1709 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0532 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7179 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 3026 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1818 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3002
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
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
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