FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS PARIS 000805 SIPDIS NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG FR SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY REF: SECSTATE 61286 ¶1. (SBU) On June 15 Mr. Sylvain Fourriere, Director of Energy Issues in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of Global Public Goods, told ESTH Counselor that France welcomes the US Government interest in joining the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). While normally the French default position would be to support the German Government's proposal of Bonn as the IRENA headquarters, the French Government will not make a decision on its position until next week. ¶2. (SBU) Fourriere explained that France has several reasons for supporting Dubai as the headquarters. For a start, building on visits by President Sarkozy, France has been developing closer relations with the UAE government, such as establishing a new French military base there, and proposing to sell civilian nuclear power reactors. Secondly, France is proposing as the French candidate for IRENA Director General Helene Pelouse, the current deputy director of the secretariat staff of Jean-Louis Borloo, the Minister of State for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Regional Planning (MEEDDAT),and formerly the chief diplomatic counselor to Borloo. France's thinking is that selection of Dubai as the headquarters would facilitate election of a European as the Director General, while selection of Bonn would made her election difficult due to the perception of excessive European influence. France will ratify the IRENA Agreement soon in order to give extra impetuous to Pelouse's candidacy. ¶3. (SBU) Fourriere agreed that IRENA should be structured to avoid overlap, and pointed out that the OECD's International Energy Agency (IEA),headquartered in Paris, has been in discussions with current IRENA staff about coordination to avoid duplication. (IEA staff confirmed that they have had contacts with IRENA staff on this point.) Also, coordination would be needed with other multinational organizations promoting various kinds of renewable energy. ¶4. (SBU) Post will report the MFA's decision on which IRENA headquarters site to support. PEKALA