US embassy cable - 05PARIS547

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 000547 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, EAID, KPAL, BK, CU, IR, IZ, UP, CH, FR, EUN 
SUBJECT: FRENCH ON JANUARY 31 GAERC 
 
REF: STATE 09678 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Paul Mailhot for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche points to MFA CFSP 
deputy Pascal LeDeunff on Jan. 18 and followed in 
conversation with LeDeunff Jan 28.  LeDeunff noted that the 
French are awaiting "with enthusiasm" the visits to Europe of 
both President Bush and Secretary Rice.  With regard to the 
President's February 22 visit to the EU, LeDeunff noted that 
the PolDirs had discussed the agenda with Assistant Secretary 
Jones during her Jan 17-18 meetings in Luxembourg.  He noted 
that the Europeans in general and the French in particular 
are looking forward to the opportunity to relaunch a dialogue 
with the United States to find a resolution to the crises in 
Iraq and the Middle East. 
 
2. (C) LeDeunff stated that no action will be taken on the 
China arms embargo, the toolbox, or the Code of Conduct 
before the President's visit.  "Discussion" on this issue, he 
said, "is frozen" for now. 
 
3.  (C)  On Ukraine, LeDeunff said that the conclusions that 
would emerge from the GAERC will be very general in nature. 
He notes that the discussion is just beginning on what the EU 
will do with regard to Ukraine.  The French, he said, want to 
keep Ukraine within the "neighborhood" framework agreed at 
The Hague in December.  He noted that he envisioned other 
member states pushing for more for Ukraine, but said the 
French are firm in their position. 
 
4.  (C)  LeDeunff said the ministers will be considering 
"adaptations" to the EU's Cuba policy at the GAERC, insisting 
that the US and the EU have the same objectives in Cuba  --- 
the liberation of political prisoners, respect for human 
rights -- but view differently the best means of achieving 
those goals.  "We like to use the carrot," he said, "you like 
the stick."  He asserted that even the mention of changes to 
the European Cuba policy had resulted in the release of some 
prisoners.  He underlined that there is a broad European 
consensus on Cuba policy. 
 
5.  (C)  Hizbollah will not be discussed at the GAERC, 
LeDeunff said, but he emphasized that the Middle East and 
Iraq will be important topics.  The ministers will discuss 
the planned March 1 Palestinian reform meeting in London, and 
he said, as part of the upcoming American visits, the French 
will seek EU pressure on the USG to open the second phase of 
the road map and hold the international conference on final 
status. "There is a favorable climate now," he said, "and we 
must act as quickly as possible.  We are going to urge the US 
to engage itself."  LeDeunff also said that the Europeans 
were likely to call on Lebanon and Syria to implement UNSCR 
1559, emphasizing especially the obligation to disarm. 
 
6.  (C)  On Iraq, LeDeunff noted that the GAERC will provide 
the first opportunity for the EU to offer its view on the 
just-completed Iraqi elections.  He noted that while he could 
not prejudge the EU statement before the elections, his sense 
is that it will be very near to the US message- that an 
important step has been taken with the holding of elections, 
and that the EU is ready to support democratic and economic 
progress in Iraq. 
Leach