Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10PARIS201
2010-02-19 16:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH PREVIEW OF FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
how-toVZCZCXRO2985 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHTRO DE RUEHFR #0201/01 0501645 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191645Z FEB 10 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8362 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0962
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000201
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PREL EUN HA IR AF BO UP FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
REF: A. EUR/ERA EMAIL - 02/17/2010
B. PARIS 68
PARIS 00000201 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000201
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PREL EUN HA IR AF BO UP FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
REF: A. EUR/ERA EMAIL - 02/17/2010
B. PARIS 68
PARIS 00000201 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: POLITICAL Counselor Andrew Young, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (SBU) On February 19, Mathieu Carmona, MFA Deputy Director
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, provided the
following preview for the February 22 Foreign Affairs Council
meeting of EU foreign ministers:
--------------
HAITI
--------------
2. (SBU/NF) Following a briefing by Kristalina Georgieva, the
new commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis response,
foreign ministers will discuss the EU strategy for the
upcoming UN donors conference. Ministers will also examine
the EU reaction to the disaster in Haiti, building on the
discussion from the January Foreign Affairs Council.
However, Carmona conceded that despite French support (ref
B),it is "too early" for the creation of a European Civil
Protection Force, an idea about which some member states,
including Germany, have displayed reticence.
--------------
IRAN
--------------
3. (C/NF) The discussion on Iran will focus on internal
politics, human rights, and the nuclear issue. Carmona said
ministers will discuss the regime's intentions in light of
its suppression of anti-government demonstrations on the
anniversary of the revolution, as well as the recent attacks
on European embassies. On human rights, France is especially
worried about Iran's bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights
Council, and plans to launch a wide demarche campaign to
encourage potential supporters to vote no or abstain.
Ideally, either all 27 EU member states or a smaller group of
the most influential will join France. Ministers will also
discuss the position of China on a potential vote on a
sanctions resolution at the UN Security Council, especially
in light of "current U.S.-China relations." Carmona said he
understands that Lady Ashton's office is currently working on
a list of possible EU sanctions for member states to consider
following a UN resolution. He added that the Italians have
now quietly joined France, the UK, and Germany on discussions
of EU sanctions and are increasingly advocating a strong
position, although Italian officials are not ready to be
publicly associated with the "EU3" on this issue.
--------------
UKRAINE
--------------
4. (SBU) Carmona said there is a general consensus in the EU
that the elections in Ukraine were well run and high turnout
underlined popular support for the democratic process.
Carmona said France is especially interested in the future of
EU-Ukraine relations, since negotiations on the EU-Ukraine
Association Agreement were launched under the French EU
presidency in September 2008, and France would like to see
this agreement finalized. He said that Ukraine joining the
European Energy Community would not necessarily give the EU
more influence to push reform, but would encourage greater
transparency in Ukraine's energy sector.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
5. (SBU/NF) Carmona said High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton would likely
brief foreign ministers on EU assistance efforts in
Afghanistan, and the selection process for the EU Special
Representative (EUSR). He added that while an EUSR would
probably not be chosen in time for the Foreign Affairs
Council, the Lithuanian candidate, former FM Vygaudas
Usackas, now seems to be the frontrunner.
--------------
BELARUS
--------------
6. (C/NF) Foreign ministers are also expected to discuss the
recent arrest in Belarus of members of the Polish minority.
The French position is that this action needs to be
condemned, as High Representative Ashton has already done,
and that the EU needs to stress to Belarus that if it wants
to benefit from the Eastern Partnership, the Belarussian
authorities must respect human rights. However, Carmona said
PARIS 00000201 002.2 OF 002
France is not in favor of any changes to overall EU policy
towards Belarus, and said the strong Polish position is
dictated by domestic politics in the run-up to the October
2010 presidential elections.
RIVKIN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PREL EUN HA IR AF BO UP FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL
REF: A. EUR/ERA EMAIL - 02/17/2010
B. PARIS 68
PARIS 00000201 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: POLITICAL Counselor Andrew Young, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (SBU) On February 19, Mathieu Carmona, MFA Deputy Director
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, provided the
following preview for the February 22 Foreign Affairs Council
meeting of EU foreign ministers:
--------------
HAITI
--------------
2. (SBU/NF) Following a briefing by Kristalina Georgieva, the
new commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis response,
foreign ministers will discuss the EU strategy for the
upcoming UN donors conference. Ministers will also examine
the EU reaction to the disaster in Haiti, building on the
discussion from the January Foreign Affairs Council.
However, Carmona conceded that despite French support (ref
B),it is "too early" for the creation of a European Civil
Protection Force, an idea about which some member states,
including Germany, have displayed reticence.
--------------
IRAN
--------------
3. (C/NF) The discussion on Iran will focus on internal
politics, human rights, and the nuclear issue. Carmona said
ministers will discuss the regime's intentions in light of
its suppression of anti-government demonstrations on the
anniversary of the revolution, as well as the recent attacks
on European embassies. On human rights, France is especially
worried about Iran's bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights
Council, and plans to launch a wide demarche campaign to
encourage potential supporters to vote no or abstain.
Ideally, either all 27 EU member states or a smaller group of
the most influential will join France. Ministers will also
discuss the position of China on a potential vote on a
sanctions resolution at the UN Security Council, especially
in light of "current U.S.-China relations." Carmona said he
understands that Lady Ashton's office is currently working on
a list of possible EU sanctions for member states to consider
following a UN resolution. He added that the Italians have
now quietly joined France, the UK, and Germany on discussions
of EU sanctions and are increasingly advocating a strong
position, although Italian officials are not ready to be
publicly associated with the "EU3" on this issue.
--------------
UKRAINE
--------------
4. (SBU) Carmona said there is a general consensus in the EU
that the elections in Ukraine were well run and high turnout
underlined popular support for the democratic process.
Carmona said France is especially interested in the future of
EU-Ukraine relations, since negotiations on the EU-Ukraine
Association Agreement were launched under the French EU
presidency in September 2008, and France would like to see
this agreement finalized. He said that Ukraine joining the
European Energy Community would not necessarily give the EU
more influence to push reform, but would encourage greater
transparency in Ukraine's energy sector.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
5. (SBU/NF) Carmona said High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton would likely
brief foreign ministers on EU assistance efforts in
Afghanistan, and the selection process for the EU Special
Representative (EUSR). He added that while an EUSR would
probably not be chosen in time for the Foreign Affairs
Council, the Lithuanian candidate, former FM Vygaudas
Usackas, now seems to be the frontrunner.
--------------
BELARUS
--------------
6. (C/NF) Foreign ministers are also expected to discuss the
recent arrest in Belarus of members of the Polish minority.
The French position is that this action needs to be
condemned, as High Representative Ashton has already done,
and that the EU needs to stress to Belarus that if it wants
to benefit from the Eastern Partnership, the Belarussian
authorities must respect human rights. However, Carmona said
PARIS 00000201 002.2 OF 002
France is not in favor of any changes to overall EU policy
towards Belarus, and said the strong Polish position is
dictated by domestic politics in the run-up to the October
2010 presidential elections.
RIVKIN