US embassy cable - 05PARIS2967

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002967 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015 
TAGS: FR, PGOV, PREL, RS 
SUBJECT: MFA DISCUSSES VISIT OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND 
EU-RUSSIA MAY 10 SUMMIT 
 
Classified By: CHARGE JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D 
 
1.(C) Summary:  Poloff met with the MFA's PDAS equivalent for 
Russia and the former Soviet space Serge Smessow on April 25 
to discuss Armenian President Kocharian's April 21-22 visit 
to Paris and French thoughts on the upcoming EU-Russia 
Summit.  Smessow was confident negotiation of the "4 Spaces" 
of EU-Russia cooperation would conclude before the May 10 
Summit. 
 
 
Visit of Armenian President 
--------------------------- 
 
2.(C) Armenian President Robert Kocharian visited France 
April 21-22 and met with President Chirac as well as members 
of the Armenian community, Smessow said.  On April 22, the 
two presidents laid wreaths at the statue of Komitas, an 
Armenian musician.  The statue memorializes as well the 
victims of the Turkish massacres of Armenians in 1915 and 
Armenian soldiers killed fighting for France.  During his 
speech Chirac did not use the word "genocide" to describe the 
1915 mass killings, but reprised a GOF phrase encouraging 
Turkey to "examine its history" with regards to the 1915 
massacres.  This official reticence on Chirac's part 
contrasts with the French Parliament, which in 2001 passed a 
law containing only one article: "France publicly recognizes 
the Armenian genocide of 1915."  The law caused an abrupt 
downturn in Franco-Turkish relations and remains an irritant 
in today's somewhat improved ties between the two countries. 
 
 
3.(C) According to estimates by ethnic Armenian 
organizations, France contains the largest population of 
Armenians in Europe with estimates of about 400,000 centered 
in Paris, Lyon and Marseille, many of them descendents of 
those who fled the 1915 genocide to refuge in France. 
Smessow said that due to fears of Turkey entering the 
European Union the Armenian community is leaning towards 
voting "no" in the May 29 referendum on the EU Constitution 
and therefore, the French government is working hard to 
convince the population that the constitution is not linked 
to Turkish accession.  Smessow noted that Armenians in 
Armenia are in favor of Turkey's accession because Armenia 
would then have a border with the EU and in addition, Turkey 
would be forced to resolve its border issues with Armenia. 
Smessow said the two presidents held a private meeting with 
no notetakers during which he assumed the conflict in 
Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed. 
 
"4 SPACES" NEARING CONCLUSION 
----------------------------- 
 
4.(C) When asked about the current status of the EU-Russia 
action plans on the "four spaces," Smessow responded that 
negotiations are 95 percent complete.  Currently, he said, 
only two questions remain: visa concerns and economic 
matters.  Russia insists, said Smessow, that its citizens 
traveling on diplomatic passports be granted visa-free access 
to the EU.  Given past abuses by Russia, many EU countries 
are hesitant, said Smessow.  In addition, Smessow added that 
Russian reluctance to accept non-Russians who had entered the 
EU from Russia and who were subsequently deported from the EU 
is still a problem and a prerequisite for easing reciprocal 
visa requirements.  On the economic front, Russia continues 
to hold fast to its position on Siberia overflight fees, said 
Smessow. 
 
5.(C) After the May 10 EU-Russia Summit, and assuming that 
the "4 spaces" have been approved, Smessow said the EU and 
Russia were looking towards 2007 as the next marker for 
evaluating progress on implementing the "4 spaces" and 
possibly working to negotiate new agreements for cooperation. 
 Looking ahead to negotiating the last pieces of the "4 
spaces" agreements, Smessow said France was "open but not 
blind." (Comment: This phrase, reminiscent of President 
Reagan's "trust but verify" direction, conveniently papers 
over the fact that France and other like-minded EU countries 
prefer to focus on being open with Russia (especially in the 
economic and commercial sense), and are reluctant to 
criticize Moscow for democratic shortcomings and human rights 
abuses.  End comment.) 
 
Chirac in Moscow 
---------------- 
 
6.(C) Smessow confirmed that President Chirac will be in 
Moscow May 9 for the WWII commemorative events.  Chirac does 
not plan any bilateral activities, but will preside over the 
dedication of a Charles de Gaulle monument in front of the 
Cosmos hotel in Moscow. 
ROSENBLATT