AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT: FRENCH WORKING WITH USAU TO

UNCLAS PARIS 000049 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA RYAN BOWLES AND LAURA GIESMER ADDIS ABABA PLEASE PASS USAU FOR JOEL MAYBURY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OVIP CARSON JOHNNIE AORC XA FR SUBJECT: AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT: FRENCH WORKING WITH USAU TO ORGANIZE MEETING WITH A/S CARSON REF: STATE 3353 Per reftel, we spoke with MFA AF African Union (AU) Coordinator Patrick Champel on January 14. Champel said that USAU Acting DCM Joel Maybury had already been in contact with France's mission in Addis Ababa to arrange a meeting between AF A/S Johnnie Carson and MFA AF A/S-equivalent Stephane Gompertz, who will head the French delegation to the AU Summit. Champel said that a Carson-Gompertz meeting was tentatively scheduled for January 30 and that the French mission in Addis Ababa and Acting DCM Maybury would finalize details. The French delegation to the AU Summit will consist of Gompertz, Champel, and France's Ambassador in Addis Ababa. We provided Champel reftel information on the composition of the U.S. delegation, which he appreciated. We further understand that President Sarkozy is planning to attend the AU summit and address the heads-of-state plenary meeting, but this awaits formal confirmation, which the French mission in Addis Ababa may provide to USAU. RIVKIN