US embassy cable - 05PARIS2414

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002414 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2014 
TAGS: PREL, FR, PGOV, PTER 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH INTERIOR 
MINISTER VILLEPIN 
 
Classified By: AMB. HOWARD LEACH, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D 
 
1. (C) Summary: In a 30-minute farewell call April 8 with 
Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, the Ambassador 
complimented the excellent level of U.S.-French 
counter-terrorism cooperation, emphasized the need for 
progress on biometric passports as soon as possible, 
encouraged Villepin to visit his counterparts in Washington 
soon, and discussed the twin challenges of security and 
democracy in Africa and the Middle East.  Villepin said he 
would make a point of visiting Washington "as soon as 
possible," and added that France was pushing fast to complete 
biometric standards for passports and identity cards.  End 
summary. 
 
COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador congratulated Villepin on the recent 
news that four additional terrorism investigating judges 
would be hired to reinforce that section's capabilities. 
Villepin said this decision was important given France's 
commitment to fighting terrorism.  The Interior Minister said 
he was pleased with the quality of cooperation on terrorism 
between the U.S. and France, and that this type of 
information-sharing should continue.  He reviewed a number of 
recent GOF counter-terrorist actions, including the 
dismantling of a "French jihadists to Iraq" network based in 
the 19th arrondisement of Paris.  France was worried, said 
Villepin, that these types of jihadists might return to 
France with new capabilities and expertise for conducting 
terrorist operations. 
 
3. (C) Villepin said he had tasked Renseignements Generaux 
and the DST (the two intelligence agencies under the 
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior) to investigate 
further the crime and money laundering networks that nourish 
the development of terrorist networks.  He said the agencies 
had conducted investigations into the low-level commerce of 
phone and other types of retail shops in "highly delicate" 
suburbs, and as a result, the Interior Ministry had expanded 
its knowledge of these financial arrangements.  When asked by 
the Ambassador whether enough was being done to freeze 
terrorist assets, Villepin replied "we could do much more." 
The GOF, said Villepin, was building a new platform of 
capabilities to fight the financing of terrorism, to include 
the enlargement of asset freezing authority to those involved 
in organized crime and other types of criminality.  Villepin 
cited the establishment of a GOF-sponsored "Foundation for 
French Islam" as another tool to crack down on the financing 
of terrorism.  Through this Foundation, said Villepin, the 
GOF would ensure that monies from the Gulf and other regions 
coming to France would only assist legal organizations. 
Still, said Villepin, domestic actions were not sufficient; 
the nature of terrorist financing meant that international 
cooperation was essential.  The Ambassador concurred, and 
assured Villepin of the USG's commitment to work with France 
on this issue.  Villepin added that, as much as he had 
disagreed with the USG approach on Iraq, he was just as 
committed to working with the U.S. to fight terrorism. 
 
BILATERAL RELATIONS AND BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS 
 
4. (C) Villepin raised the issue of biometric standards for 
passports with the Ambassador, saying that France was working 
as fast as it could to implement these standards, but that it 
was concerned that this could become a problem.  The 
Ambassador replied that the U.S. intended to be reasonable; 
however, Congressional-approved delays in implementation 
should not be considered automatic.  It is important for 
these standards to be met as soon as possible.  Villepin 
agreed, and said that biometric passports would be the 
subject of a meeting early next week with Prime Minister 
Raffarin.  At the conclusion of that meeting, said Villepin, 
France would have more specific information regarding its 
timeline and process to implement agreed-upon standards for 
biometric passports.  The Ambassador said the Embassy would 
be happy to convey this information when it was ready -- 
including to Congressman Sensenbrenner, who had recently 
visited France regarding the issue. 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador encouraged Villepin to consider a visit 
to Washington to meet with his counterparts.  Villepin agreed 
and said he hoped to visit Washington as soon as possible. 
He had not done so as of yet in order to give those just 
coming into their positions some time.  The Ambassador noted 
that he would be meeting with Ambassador Negroponte in the 
coming weeks, and would be happy to pass on a recommendation 
for a meeting with Villepin.  He also praised recent 
negotiations in the UN, where French and U.S. objections were 
discussed and resolved in private, not in public. 
 
THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA 
 
6. (C) Turning to the Middle East, Villepin said it was 
important for countries like France and the U.S. to engage 
Middle Eastern countries with strong intelligence 
capabilities, like Syria and Iran, given their resources and 
understanding of the region.  It was necessary, said 
Villepin, to clarify their attitudes towards terrorism and 
joining the community of democracies.  These countries must 
get the same message from us, said Villepin, and they must 
not be allowed to play one country off the other.  France and 
the U.S. had common interests in getting countries in the 
Middle East interested in "new perspectives."  Countries like 
Syria have a choice, said Villepin: they can choose the path 
of retreating into the past or modernization.  In short, they 
are at a crossroads and they must receive the same message 
from Europe and the U.S.; namely, that our one great concern 
is security and our one great objective is democracy. 
7. (C) In closing, the Ambassador said he was a great 
believer in the idea that when the U.S. and France work 
together, much can be accomplished.  Villepin agreed, and 
cited examples of cooperation in the Caribbean and Africa. 
Reaction to the tsunami over Christmas was a demonstration of 
how important it was for the U.S. and Europe to address the 
poverty, health and development lag of many countries, 
especially those in Africa.  Working together, said Villepin, 
"we can really change the situation of the African 
continent."  The Ambassador agreed, and assured Villepin of 
the USG's commitment in the region. 
LEACH