US embassy cable - 05PARIS3182

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 PARIS 003182 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/R/E (CAROL GRABAUSKAS; STEVE TAYLOR; 
CHARLOTTE TITUS); EUR/PPD (LILLIAN DEVALCOURT) 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, FR 
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP - NOMINATION AND PART I BIODATA FOR TWO 
PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES FOR EURP - U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 
CHALLENGES I (OCTOBER 10 - 28, 2005) 
 
REF: STATE 004520 
 
POST WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE TWO PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES FOR 
SUBJECT PROGRAM: MR. JEAN-PAUL ALBERTINI; MR. PIERRE FRANCE. 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: PaillardS@state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Paris 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 14544 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGE 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 274 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: FY 2006 - EURP U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
This project is designed for government officials, 
politicians, academics and journalists actively developing or 
interpreting foreign policy.  It will focus on foreign policy 
issues of concern to Europe and the U.S., including counter 
terrorism and security issues, the future of trans-Atlantic 
relations, the changing roles of international organizations 
such as NATO and the United Nations, and global trade in the 
context of U.S. foreign policy. 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Regional 
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor 
FY: 2006 
DEPART-POST: 10/08/2005 
SESSION-DATE: 10/10/2005 
RETURN-POST: 11/12/2005 
NO-OF-PART: 2 
RANK-ORDER: 1 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1047 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 14544 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Foreign Policy 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Jean-Paul 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Albertini 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 0 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: Cour des Comptes 
M-ADDR2: Sixieme Chambre 
M-ADDR3: 13, rue Cambon 
M-CITY: Paris 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: France 
M-ZONE: 75001 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: + (33) 1.42.98.59.96 
M-FAX: 
M-EMAIL: jpalbertini@ccomptes.fr 
M-CNTRY-ID: FR 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 10/26/1964 
MAR-STAT: M 
BIRTH-CITY: Suresnes 
BIRTH-CNTRY: France 
CITIZ-CNTRY: France 
RES-CNTRY: France 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Member of the 6th Chamber, specializes in social affairs, 
social security and health at France's General Accounting 
watchdog, the Accounting Court, since 2002 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
2001-2002 - Chief of Staff to Green Environment Minister Yves 
Cochet 
2001 - Deputy Chief of Staff to successive Environment 
Ministers Dominique Voynet and Yves Cochet 
1999-2001 - Adviser for European and International Affairs on 
Minister Dominique Voynet's personal staff 
1997-1999 - Technical Adviser in charge of intra-EU economic 
issues on the personal staff of Pierre Moscovici, European 
Affairs Minister 
1995-1997 - Head of the EU Affairs Office at the Economy and 
Finance Ministry's Directorate for External Economic Relations 
1994-1995 - Communication and International Relations Adviser 
to the First President of the Accounting court 
1991-1994 - Auditor/Investigator in charge of public sector 
companies in the energy sector (EDF/GDF/ELF) 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
December 1999 - Seattle, business 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1989-1991 - Graduate School for Senior Civil Servant 
1987 - Law Degree, University of Sorbonne Paris I 
1985 - Paris Institute of Political Studies 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
- Member of the Socialist Party since 1993 and member of the 
Party's Commission on Environment 
- Co-founder of three political associations: 
--"Alternative Socialiste" to reform the Socialist Party (back 
in 1994 when the popularity of the Socialist Party was quite 
low) 
--"Generation Europeenne" a European federation group 
--"Respire" to work on environment and sustainable development 
issues 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 4 
ENGL-SPEAK: 4 
ENGL-COMP: 4 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Italian 
OTHER-LANG-ID: JT 
READ: 0 
SPEAK: 0 
COMP: 0 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: German 
OTHER-LANG-ID: GM 
READ: 0 
SPEAK: 0 
COMP: 0 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
Our primary objective is to renew our contact with a rising 
star within the French Socialist Party, at a particular 
crucial time for the future of that party as it develops its 
platform and goals in preparation for the 1997 Presidential 
and legislative elections. At the same time, in the longer 
term, we would like to give Albertini, a specialist of 
European and environmental issues, exposure to the U.S. A 
previous nominee from the French Socialist Party returned from 
his trip to the U.S. with the conviction that the Socialist 
Party had previously "overlooked" the importance of the 
bilateral U.S.-French relationship.  Lack of exposure to the 
U.S. explains general antagonism towards the U.S. way of life. 
We believe Albertini will occupy important functions if the 
Socialists return to power and should therefore acquire 
greater insight into U.S. policies. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
Given Albertini's intellectual pedigree and professional and 
political experience, we believe he would greatly gain from 
participation into the European Program: "U.S. Foreign Policy 
Challenges" 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Florence Radovic 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Mr. Albertini has advanced quickly within the elite of the 
French civil service. A graduate of the prestigious French 
National School of Administration ENA, he was picked out as 
one of the most promising graduates of his class by one of the 
best "headhunters" in French political circles, former 
European Affairs Minister Pierre Moscovici.  He then followed 
the typical French bureaucratic elite curriculum, first at one 
of France's most prestigious administrative bodies, the French 
Accounting Court (similar to the GAO), and then in three 
different ministries, at senior levels, including Chief-of- 
Staff. 
His previous government experience on issues key to ongoing 
and future U.S. trade policy objectives, i.e. trade, European 
Affairs and the environment, combined with his intellectual 
curiosity and his good standing within the Socialist Party, 
make him an obvious choice for the IV Program. 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: ECON - U.S. Embassy, Paris, France 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: No 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID: 543 
PERSON-ID: 442 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR 
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: 
NOM-POST-ID: 14544 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Pierre 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: France 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 0 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace 
M-ADDR2: 17-21, rue de la Nuee Bleue 
M-ADDR3: BP 406 
M-CITY: Strasbourg 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: France 
M-ZONE: 67077 cedex 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: + (33) 3.88.21.57.57 
M-FAX: + (33) 3.88.21.57.24 
M-EMAIL: pfrance@dna.fr 
M-CNTRY-ID: FR 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 10/06/1971 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Annecy 
BIRTH-CNTRY: France 
CITIZ-CNTRY: France 
RES-CNTRY: France 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Region-wide Reporter, Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace-DNS, 
Strasbourg, since 2000 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Multimedia expert journalist at DNA, since 1999 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1999-2000 - Journalist at the Economic Section, DNA 
1998 - Intern, and then journalist at the local news section, 
DNA 
1994-1997 - Freelance Journalist at "Dauphine Libere" 
1994-1997 - Stringer for "Cyberstratege", "Planete Internet", 
"01 Informatique" 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
September 2000, Washington D.C., Chicago and New York City, 3 
weeks tourism 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
November 2003 - Spain, tourism 
October 2002 - England (London), tourism 
November 2001 - Morocco, tourism 
April 1999 - Former Republic of Yugoslavia (Skopje), press 
report 
September 1998 - Quebec, tourism 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1997-1999 - Strasbourg School of Journalism, Master Degree in 
Journalism and Sciences and Techniques, specialization written 
press 
1994-1977 - University of Savoie, two-year study diploma and 
BA in History 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
- Multimedia Associations 
- Improvisation Theater Group, semi-professional actor 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
2003-2004:90 articles on line (non-exhaustive list including 
30 articles on multimedia development) on www.pierrefrance.com 
on various issues such as: 
- Aug 18, 2004: "Dans les Banlieues Alsaciennes : le Spectre 
des Ghettos Ethniques" 
- June 25, 2004:  "L'Eurocorps est Pret pour l'Afghanistan" 
- June 15, 2004:  "Aux Etats-Unis, Etre de Gauche, c'est 
Militer" 
- June 7, 2004:  "Paix et Liberte sur l'Europe" 
- January 5, 2004:  "Dans les Quartiers, le Risque au 
Quotidien" 
+ numerous articles on social issues. 
A book (novel) is to be published. 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Spanish 
OTHER-LANG-ID: QB 
READ: 2 
SPEAK: 2 
COMP: 2 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Arabic 
OTHER-LANG-ID: AR 
READ: 2 
SPEAK: 2 
COMP: 2 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
As a journalist, Pierre France could help our outreach to 
French audiences to explain U.S. policies on crime and cyber- 
technology specifically, and on other issues as well. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Christopher Davis; Genevieve Thomassin 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
At 33, Pierre France is the youngest of the region-wide 
reporter team at Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace (DNA - circul. 
224,000), the largest regional daily newspaper in Alsace. 
While he entered that professional circle as a specialist in 
multimedia/Internet issues, he also writes articles on youth 
at risk, ethnic ghettos in Alsatian suburbs, crime, Turkey and 
Europe, the Eurocorps and Afghanistan, and even articles on 
American politics, based on interviews with visiting Americans 
(e.g., the widow of Gene Kelly).  Pierre France speaks 
English, but only traveled once to the United States for three 
weeks as a tourist in September 2000.   While preparing a 
Master's degree at the Strasbourg School of Journalism, he did 
an internship at DNA, then a short stint as a free-lance 
journalist there, before being hired as a full-time DNA 
journalist. 
Pierre France's versatility leads his Chief Editor, former 
Franco-American Foundation grantee, to place great hopes in 
his career.  Chief Editor Dominique Jung credits Pierre France 
with "extensive intellectual curiosity and dynamism, willing 
and able to report on a wide variety of subjects."  Jung 
thinks his young charge would absorb a great deal from an 
International Visitor experience.   Disarmingly unassuming at 
first blush, Pierre France is also a semi-professional actor 
in an improvisation theater group, and a fiction writer 
(unpublished so far).  His interests range far beyond 
multimedia and the arts; he also has a keen interest in social 
and international issues, especially international crime, and 
would greatly benefit from an IV experience in the United 
States. 
With the Schengen Information Center, the Franco-German Center 
for Police Cooperation, the Council of Europe's GRECO (Group 
of States Against Corruption), and its University's new degree 
in combating money-laundering, Strasbourg brings together many 
experts in international crime.  Pierre France is poised to 
pull these strands together in his reporting.  Insights gained 
from an IV program could help inform his reporting in a way 
that could foster our transatlantic cooperation on various 
issues. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: AmConGen Strasbourg, France 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: No 
E-I-TYPE: 
NOMINEE-ID: 544 
PERSON-ID: 443 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR 
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: 
NOM-POST-ID: 14544 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
  WOLFF