US embassy cable - 05PARIS209

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000209 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PTER, EAIR, SENV, FR 
SUBJECT: CHIRAC LOOKS FORWARD TO 2005: THE TONE CHANGES, 
THE VIEW REMAINS THE SAME. 
 
REF: PARIS 00081 
 
Classified By: DCM, Alex Wolff, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY. During his traditional New Year's address to 
the diplomatic corps in Paris January 6, President Chirac 
stated his desire for good relations with the U.S. and 
extended "friendly wishes" to President Bush in advance of 
his inauguration (President Bush and UN Secretary General 
Kofi Annan were the only leaders addressed specifically in 
the speech).  Chirac said he looks forward to facing the 
world's challenges with the U.S., describing these challenges 
as "opportunities to illustrate the vitality of the 
transatlantic link."  While the overall tone of Chirac's 
speech was positive and encouraging as regards both the U.S. 
and the transatlantic relationship, Chirac took the 
opportunity to stress issues on which France and the U.S. 
differ -- the importance of the Kyoto protocol and the 
establishment of an "international tax" to name two -- he 
finished with a reminder that "the multipolar reality of our 
world is becoming more and more obvious."  Chirac's look 
forward to 2005 cites a myriad of challenges, among them how 
the international community will prepare for and administer 
emergency aid (a challenge brought to the forefront by the 
recent tsunami); establishing democracy in Iraq and the 
Middle East; bringing stability to the Ivory Coast and 
Darfour; reforming the United Nations; and dealing with the 
threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. END SUMMARY 
 
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Chirac, the U.S. and the Transatlantic Relationship 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Chirac's address took a conciliatory tone towards the 
U.S. and the transatlantic relationship which were mentioned 
specifically five times in the course of Chirac's 30 minute 
speech.  Firstly, Chirac stated his intention to build a 
credible "Europe Defense" that will "contribute to 
strengthening the Atlantic Alliance;" he later congratulated 
President Bush, framing the world's challenges as 
"opportunities to illustrate the vitality of the 
transatlantic link;" and then spoke of the U.S. as a partner 
in dealing with Iran; a co-contributor with Europe for Global 
Fund replenishment and finally as an important world player 
which needs to be engaged regarding the Kyoto protocol. 
Chirac's opinions were not always in accord with U.S. 
positions, but the U.S. was portrayed throughout the speech 
as a partner. 
 
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The Tsunami and Administering International Aid 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
3. (U)  Chirac used the recent tsunami as a means to 
highlight both French involvement on the world stage and 
shortcomings of the international community to act in pursuit 
of a common goal.  He offered concrete examples of what 
France is doing in the region, stating that, at a ministerial 
meeting that he chaired just prior to his speech, he and 
French ministers decided to focus immediate efforts on 
providing access to drinking water and on preventing 
epidemics by setting up a field hospital in northern Sumatra 
and sending the helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc to the area. 
 
4. (U)  He followed by stressing France's perspective for 
providing aid, stating that at the Paris Club meeting on 
January 12, France will call for an immediate and 
interest-free moratorium on debt repayment for the countries 
of the region.  For the worst-affected areas, he said, France 
will be proposing additional debt-relief measures following 
an assessment of reconstruction needs.  He said that he has 
already submitted a proposal that the G8 adopt a generous and 
coordinated approach to these issues to the British G8 
Presidency. 
 
5. (U)  Chirac said that in the upcoming January 7 meeting in 
Brussels the GOF would support a massive commitment by the EU 
to help the region by calling for all of the available 
resources to be brought together in a European Reconstruction 
Fund (see reftel for French Donor Support).  He added that 
France, like its European partners, is prepared to mobilize 
the financial resources required for reconstruction based on 
need assessments that will be announced in donor conferences. 
 
 
6. (U)  However, for Chirac, the tsunami provided not only a 
means to discuss the efforts France has made and intends to 
make, but also the shortcomings of the international 
community to respond to such catastrophes.  Chirac dusted off 
several long-standing proposals in his call for measures that 
he said would better prepare the world for future disasters. 
Included in his list of "innovative funding mechanisms" 
through which to increase development assistance was his old 
idea of "international taxation" which, he said, France would 
be raising this year in the G8 and the UN. (Chirac also 
brought up the international tax idea when discussing aid for 
developing nations in the context of reform of international 
institutions later in his speech.)  He stated the need for a 
worldwide early-warning system and said that France would 
contribute to the development of such a network and the 
creation of a "humanitarian rapid reaction force" which, he 
said, should exist within the framework of the UN. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
The Middle East:  Iraq; Israel/Palestine; Lebanon 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
7. (U)  Chirac said that the Middle East and Iraq are "the 
most urgent issues" to be faced in the coming year.  He 
voiced his support for the political process set out in 
Resolution 1546 and the reconstruction of the country but was 
also careful to stress that all sectors of Iraqi society be 
given the opportunity to participate in that process, "it is 
essential that the largest possible number of Iraqis take 
part in it, thus demonstrating their rejection of violence." 
He underscored this by saying that "all parts of Iraqi 
society and all stakeholders in Iraqi political life" must be 
guaranteed "their rightful place in the country's future 
institutions," implicitly referring to the threatened boycott 
by Sunni groups. 
 
8. (U)  Chirac was measured and optimistic in his assessment 
of the Israeli/Palestinian situation.  He praised both the 
"maturity of the Palestinian people" in finding a successor 
to Yasser Arafat and the "courageous decision by the Israeli 
government" to disengage from Gaza.  While he stressed the 
importance that the withdrawal from Gaza be a success, he 
also said that the Palestinian Authority must meet its own 
responsibilities and that the withdrawal must be coordinated 
with the roadmap which, he said, "must be restarted 
immediately." 
 
9. (U)  As regards Lebanon, Chirac cited the implementation 
of Resolution 1559 as an example of further freeing the 
Middle East by "putting an end to outdated arrangements." 
Implementation of the resolution, he said, "will require our 
full attention, especially in the run-up to the legislative 
elections next spring." 
 
------------------------------ 
Nonproliferation and Terrorism 
------------------------------ 
 
10. (U)  The threat of terrorism was not prominently 
addressed in his speech, although Chirac mentioned 
bioterrorism and cyberterrorism specifically as "new forms 
taken by the threat" which demand an increasingly effective 
response.  He also said that France calls on the EU to be 
vigilant in destroying terrorist finance networks ('tax 
havens' in the speech) while remaining "in compliance with 
our values."  The struggle, he added, must "address the roots 
of terrorism, which are first and foremost to be found in 
unresolved conflicts with their attendant injustice, misery 
and despair." 
 
11. (U)  Chirac suggested that the EU3's dealings with Iran 
is a template to be followed when preventing the 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  He said that 
countries abiding by their international nonproliferation 
obligations must be able to have the benefit of access to 
legal technologies while "we must be unwavering towards those 
who fail to live up to their commitments."  These principles, 
he said, guide the EU3 in negotiations of a long-term 
agreement with Iran, in cooperation with other partners in 
the EU, Russia, the US and China. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Making International Institutions More Effective 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
12. (U)  Echoing many of the same sentiments he expressed 
when addressing the international community's ability to 
respond to disasters, and that he has put forward repeatedly 
in speeches over the past year, Chirac stressed the necessity 
to make international institutions more efficient and 
effective.  He said that the United Nations is the only 
universal forum for regulating international relations; he 
praised Kofi Annan as "a man of peace, conviction, courage 
and integrity;" and said "2005 must be the year of UN 
reform."  He stated that next September's UN summit meeting 
will present an opportunity to implement reforms outlined by 
the Panel of Eminent Persons.  He reiterated France's support 
of Security Council expansion in both the permanent and 
non-permanent categories; creation of an economic and social 
governance policy forum and a UN Environment Organization; 
reinforcement of post-conflict management capabilities; and 
further progress in the protection of human rights. 
 
13. (U)  Chirac mentioned another international tax, this 
time in the context of development financing.  He said that 
the September Summit must be used to make the decision to 
double concessional financing and that he would continue to 
work with Brazil, Chile, Spain and others to develop this and 
other "innovative mechanisms" which are necessary to make 
this happen. He argued that an international tax could also 
support anti-AIDS initiatives.  He said that it is essential 
to raise an annual amount of three billion dollars at the 
Global Fund Replenishment Conference in March, with the EU, 
the US and other donors each contributing a third of the 
total amount.  Chirac added that France will be hosting an 
international conference in June on microcredit, which he 
said needs to be increased tenfold in the coming year. 
 
14. (U)  Chirac said that the G8 Summit in Gleneagles will 
provide an opportunity to engage the US on the Kyoto 
Protocol, which will enter into force on February 16.  He 
said the needs of emerging countries must also be addressed, 
as they must in concluding the Doha round of the WTO. 
 
15. (U)  In discussing Europe, Chirac mentioned the cultural 
diversity convention currently under negotiation in UNESCO. 
He said that he has asked the government to organize a 
meeting of European cultural leaders in Paris this spring. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
"2005 will be a decisive year for the future of Europe." 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
16. (U)  Chirac spoke positively of the European 
Constitution, the referendum for which will be held before 
the summer break.  French citizens, he said, "will look back 
and contemplate how far we have come in the last 
half-century."  The Constitution, he said, will "lend new 
force to the European economic and social model to withstand 
the strong winds of globalization."  The Constitution, he 
added, will also give Europe a solid framework through which 
to develop ambitious policies, suggesting that the example of 
Airbus already points the way (he added he will be in 
Toulouse on January 18 with the Federal Chancellor and the 
Prime Ministers of Britain and Spain to attend the official 
roll-out of the A380).  He also noted that the joint fusion 
project, ITER, which he said should be located in Cadarche 
(France), will place Europe on the cutting edge of the "drive 
to acquire energies of the future." 
 
17. (U)  As regards the integration of Turkey he said, "our 
objective is indeed to prepare for Turkish accession."  But, 
"we cannot rule out the possibility of a different outcome if 
that country is not able, or willing, to see the process 
through to its conclusion." 
 
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Media Reaction 
-------------- 
 
18. (U)  French and international press made note of Chirac's 
remarks, seeing in them an effort to reach out to the U.S. 
Left-leaning Liberation headlined that Chirac was "making 
eyes" at the U.S., while the FT concluded: "Chirac keen to 
mend relations with the U.S."  The Financial Times reported 
that Chirac's speech revealed a range of forward-looking 
proposals "so freshly designed that they even seemed to catch 
some of his own ministers off-guard," while recent reporting 
in Liberation suggests that Chirac is pushing his focus on 
the coming ten years because he has achieved so little in the 
ten years he has already spent in office. 
 
---------------------------- 
The Fundamental Shift - Tone 
---------------------------- 
 
19. (C)  COMMENT.  Chirac's views put forward on January 6 
are not particularly new -- as he has on many occasions, he 
expressed his desire to increase the competitiveness of 
Europe and sees the Constitution as a fundamental 
prerequisite for doing so.  He repeated his view that the UN 
is the sole forum for reconciling international disputes and 
said he wants to implement reforms that will empower it.  He 
ratcheted up his rhetoric to generate development funds 
through an international tax.  There is, however, a new, more 
positive tone in his remarks about the U.S., which he 
describes as a partner in the effort to meet global 
challenges.  The question now is whether this change is 
merely rhetorical, designed to create a better atmosphere. 
Or, whether Chirac intends to take concrete steps to give 
substance to the new tone. 
 
20. (U)  A copy of the full text of Chirac's speech has been 
faxed to EUR/WE. 
Leach