US embassy cable - 05PARIS1038

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2006 
TAGS: PREL, CN, XO, FR 
SUBJECT: FRANCE/COMOROS:  AZALI VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Embassy Africa watcher met February 16 with Remi 
Marechaux, MFA DAS-equivalent for southern Africa and the 
Indian Ocean, for a read-out on Comoran President Azali 
Assoumani's January 31-February 2 official visit to France. 
Marechaux  said that the visit was largely symbolic, as part 
of an effort to rehabilitate Azali, a former putschist. 
France's message, he said, was to convey to Azali that France 
believed that the crisis in the Comoros was over and that the 
union of the three islands would work.  Azali, he said, was 
reminded about his commitment to leave office in 2006.  In 
response to our noting press accounts that Azali was happy 
with his visit, Marechaux said that if Azali was happy, 
France was happy. 
 
2.  (C) Marechaux said that Azali (and other Indian Ocean 
state leaders) had expressed no concern about the 
postponement of the Indian Ocean summit in Antananarivo until 
July, reportedly to enable French President Chirac to focus 
on preparations for the referendum on the EU constitution. 
Marechaux said that Azali's meetings with Chirac and FM 
Barnier had been brief; 45 and 25 minutes respectively. 
Cooperation Minister Darcos hosted a dinner for Azali and 150 
other guests and the President of the National Assembly also 
organized a highly ceremonial reception.  According to 
Marechaux, the principal topic of discussion was the Comoros 
engagements with the IFIs in order to move via a Staff 
Monitored program to a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, 
and thence to HIPC eligibility.  Press reports state that 
Chirac pledged France's support for Comoros in the IFIs. 
 
3. (C) Marechaux said that Comoros' territorial claim over 
Mayotte complicated telecommunications issues.  Although a 
French territory, French callers had to dial the 
international access code for Comoros, and those in Mayotte 
the code for France.  No change was possible he said, without 
the assent of the International Telecommunications Union, and 
Comoros had blocked any change.  Mayotte, he said, also 
encountered difficulty in fielding sports teams, particularly 
soccer teams, in regional competitions because of Comoran 
objections to the French flag on team shirts.  Marechaux said 
that the two sides were stuck on the territorial claim, with 
Comoros regarding it as a matter of national pride.  France, 
he said, was constitutionally barred from ceding territory 
without the consent of its inhabitants who, in three 
referenda since 1975, had voted overwhelmingly to remain part 
of France. 
 
4. (C) Marechaux said that he would be traveling to Comoros 
at the end of February to discuss these issues in preparation 
for the France/Comoros mixed commission meetings in April. 
The mixed commission, he said, would also discuss security of 
Comoros' frontiers, focusing particularly on the traffic in 
persons and goods to Mayotte.  Marechaux said that Mayotte's 
(and thus, France's) problems mostly stemmed from Anjouan. 
Marechaux said that France wanted to send one or two 
gendarmes to Anjouan, but the Comorans had so far refused. 
The French also propose establishing a regular ferry service 
between Anjouan and Mayotte which, they hope, will undercut 
the smugglers.  Marechaux reaffirmed French policy towards 
Anjouan President Bacar, who is seeking independence from the 
Comoros.  Bacar was received last week by the MFA Africa 
director, having refused a similar meeting three weeks 
earlier, believing that he should be received at a higher 
level.  Although Anjouan continues to operate as an 
independent state, Marechaux said, France supports the union 
and the Fomboni process, and Bacar will not be received by 
anyone above the Director's level. 
 
5. (C) Marechaux told us of two other French-inspired 
initiatives for the Comoros.  During President Chirac's visit 
to Libya, Qadhafi had expressed interest in undertaking 
projects in Africa.  Chirac had suggested road construction 
in the Comoros and the Libyans had agreed.  Marechaux was 
unable to put a figure on the Libyan project.  The second 
initiative was to allow Comoran potatoes and onions to be 
shipped and sold for consumption in Mayotte notwithstanding 
EU regulations.  The Comorans, according to Marechaux, had 
pressed for free access for a wider range of produce but, he 
said, the GoF had reminded them that the EU had begun as a 
coal and steel project. 
 
6. (C) Marechaux explained the lack of a Comoran Ambassador 
in France as being the result of the Embassy's failure to pay 
any of its 1.5 million euros in debts to various creditors, 
many of whom were constantly pressing the MFA for action. 
France barred assignment of new Comoran diplomats in 2001 and 
even contributed 100,000 euros in 2004.  However despite 
repeated urging by France to address the Embassy's debt 
problems, the debts continued to grow, Marechaux said. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT:  Marechaux and Africa watcher have had 
frequent contact over two assignments and six years.  He said 
that he would prefer to be spending his time on Zimbabwe or 
South Africa.  He said he spends about 40 per cent of his 
time on the Comoros.  His often cynical description of his 
work on the Comoros undoubtedly reflects a frustration with 
having to deal with France's closest African neighbor (100 
kms from Mayotte).  However, he also said that he does what 
he likes on Comoros as none of his superiors is interested. 
He left us with the impression that for France, dealings with 
the Comoros were largely an unfortunate necessity born of 
proximity.  END COMMENT. 
Leach