US embassy cable - 05PARIS1542

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PM, EUR/WE AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2015 
TAGS: ETTC, PREL, MARR, CH, FR 
SUBJECT: FRANCE: EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, CODE OF CONDUCT AND 
THE TOOLBOX 
 
REF: STATE 39909 
 
Classified By: Economic Section Chief Ken Merten; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND ( 
D). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Our MFA contact reported that internal EU 
negotiations on the modalities of a strengthened Code of 
Conduct were completed, while discussions on the "toolbox" 
were almost done.  This GOF export control expert reaffirmed 
the belief that the EU China Arms Embargo would be lifted 
before the end of June.  He also said that France supports 
"reduced format" EU discussions to decide which items must 
not be ultimately considered for sale to China.  End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On March 8, Econoff met with Jacques Maillard, MFA 
Head of Export Controls Office in the Economic Directorate, 
to obtain an update on EU discussions on the China Arms 
Embargo and, in particular, the planned strengthening of the 
EU Code of Conduct and the "toolbox" for post-embargo 
countries.  Econoff shared reftel points concerning the China 
arms embargo with Maillard, who responded that essentially 
the same points had been made the previous day in Washington 
at a meeting that EU representatives had with NSC Senior 
Director for European and Eurasian Affairs, Dan Fried, 
implying that he had already been fully briefed on that 
meeting. 
 
3. (C) Maillard mentioned that he was aware of the planned 
March 14-15 visit to Washington of EU High Representative 
Solana's special representative for nonproliferation issues, 
Annalisa Gianella.  Maillard said that a French "expert" from 
the MFA would be accompanying her -- however, without naming 
the individual, Maillard noted in confidence that the 
"expert" was quite unfamiliar with the subject. 
 
4. (SBU) Maillard said the GOF supported "reduced format" 
internal EU discussions among the six countries which 
actually export significant military goods, presumably to 
decide which items must not be considered for sale to China. 
However, he thought there was no way out of discussions that 
include all 25 EU member and candidate countries.  With 
respect to a strategic dialog with the U.S. along the lines 
mentioned in reftel, Maillard thought it would be more 
appropriate after the lifting of the embargo than before. 
Speaking of the EU China Arms Embargo, Maillard reiterated 
his view that it would be lifted before the end of the 
Luxembourg presidency, possibly in May, but certainly before 
the end of June.  When EconOff mentioned coincidental timing 
of the mid-June Paris Air Show, Maillard recalled what he 
termed a "boycott" of the 2003 Paris Air Show by USG 
officials, but noted that U.S. industry was still 
well-represented.  Maillard seemed unconcerned about any 
possible impact EU actions might have on U.S. attendance at 
the 2005 Paris Air Show. 
 
5. (SBU) Econoff raised the Code of Conduct and the toolbox 
measures for post-embargo countries, to which Maillard 
responded that internal EU negotiations over the modalities 
of a strengthened CoC had been completed, while the toolbox 
was almost done.  He gave no further details or an explicit 
date when either would be adopted, but implied it would be in 
the next several weeks.  Lastly, when Econoff asked if the 
GOF had made any recent contact with the U.S. legislative 
branch, Maillard said no but reported that HMG 
representatives had met recently with congressional staffers, 
including Thomas Moore from the House International Relations 
Committee. 
Leach