US embassy cable - 05PARIS3088

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003088 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 
TAGS: KPKO, SL, LI, IV, UK, FR, UNSC 
SUBJECT: FRANCE FAVORS RATIONALIZING WEST AFRICA UN 
MISSIONS - WITHOUT LINKAGE TO UNOCI INCREASE 
 
REF: A. LONDON 3679 
     B. STATE 80028 
 
Classified By: CDA Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Embassy Africa watcher raised ref B points on 
authorizing the UNSYG to transfer peacekeeping units among 
existing missions in West Africa with MFA AF PDAS-equivalent 
Elisabeth Barbier and MFA IO DAS-equivalent Jean Pierre 
Lacroix on May 6. 
 
2. (C) Barbier, while noting that IO had the lead on this 
issue, told us that France had no basic objection to our 
proposal, and should be able to support it, consistent with 
France's long-held view of the need for a regional approach 
to the crises in West Africa.  In a separate meeting, Lacroix 
said that France was "absolutely" in favor of better 
interaction among PKOs operating in the same region and that 
France had been suggesting this for some time.  Lacroix 
cautioned that such arrangements would have to be 
well-planned, taking into account the conditions in each 
country, and ensuring that missions were not depleted to the 
extent that they were unable to accomplish their mandates. 
He added that troop contributors would need to be consulted, 
and their agreement would not be automatic, notwithstanding 
that the same countries had troops in both Liberia and Cote 
d'Ivoire. 
 
3. (C) Lacroix continued that France shared USG concerns on 
budget issues and was ready to work with the USG on this 
proposal to ensure that contributions were not increased. 
 
4. (C) Lacroix insisted that there should be no linkage 
between this proposal and the discussions on increasing the 
troop ceiling and revision of the mandate for UNOCI (see ref 
A, para 3). 
ROSENBLATT