EUMM: FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. INVOLVEMENT, SPECIFICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000971 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2019 TAGS: MARR PREL GG RS EU FR SUBJECT: EUMM: FRANCE SUPPORTS U.S. INVOLVEMENT, SPECIFICS TO COME IN THE FALL REF: 7/16/09 GIAUQUE EMAIL Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young for Reasons 1.4(b),(d) . ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Patrick Maisonnave, office director-equivalent for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' European Community External Relations, said France is strongly in favor of U.S. involvement in the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, but he did not specify how the United States could best provide support. He said he expected EU-wide agreement on the need to involve the United States, and that European nations would likely demarche Washington in September or October with a detailed request. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Maisonnave said the EUMM, which would be renewed with the same mandate, had been designed from the beginning to allow eventual involvement by third countries. Now that it is the only mission remaining in Georgia, it is critical to show that it is not just Europe, but the international community that supports a stable, independent Georgia. While it is most important to bring the United States on board, Maisonnave said the EU might also approach other third countries, and speculated those could include Canada and perhaps eventually Turkey. Although he had no details on exactly how the EU would like the United States to support the EUMM, he said it is likely that the EU would request in the early autumn a small number of personnel to serve primarily as a symbolic gesture of U.S. commitment. ¶3. (C) Maisonnave expressed relief at U.S. interest in the EUMM, adding recent U.S. engagement of Russia had led some in France to question whether the United States might make Georgia less of a priority. Post emphasized our desire for improved relations with Russia did not come at the expense of our principles. Maisonnave also welcomed the upcoming visit of Vice President Biden to Georgia, adding he hopes the Vice President will underline to President Saakashvili the need for real political dialogue as a key contributing factor to overall stability in the region. He described visa liberalization and a possible EU Free Trade Agreement with Georgia as additional EU efforts to support Georgian stability. ¶4. (C) On a side note, Maisonnave said Georgia's 2008 "Law on Occupied Territories in Georgia," which criminalizes movement between Georgian-controlled territory and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, was proving to be an obstacle to the EUMM's ability to observe the most relevant areas. He added it was likely that the EU would ask Georgia at some point to repeal the law. PEKALA