US embassy cable - 05PARIS3232

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003232 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, SU, FR, EUN 
SUBJECT: DARFUR: FRENCH POSITION ON NATO ROLE 
 
REF: STATE 87278 
 
Classified By: CDA Alejandro D. Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Drawing on reftel points, Charge raised a possible 
NATO role in Darfur with MFA Political Director Stanislas de 
Laboulaye May 11.  Charge said French opposition to a NAC 
meeting with AU SYG Konare was not consistent with FM 
Barnier's assurances that Paris would not object to a NATO 
role in Sudan.  We had heard reports that Konare might be 
rethinking his visit to Brussels, perhaps because of concerns 
about getting between the EU and NATO.  This would be a 
setback to both organizations.  Laboulaye, who said he was 
not aware of French opposition to a NAC meeting with Konare, 
seemed surprised to hear that Konare was considering 
canceling his trip to Brussels.  Referring to FM Barnier's 
May 2 assurance to the Secretary that France would not block 
a NATO role, Laboulaye recalled that Barnier had also stated 
that the GoF had been unenthusiastic, but that Konare's 
letter requesting NATO assistance had changed the situation. 
 
2. (C) On the issue of Konare meeting with the NAC, Laboulaye 
wondered whether such a meeting was essential, suggesting 
that a meeting with NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer 
would suffice.  Charge countered that a meeting with the NAC 
would be both appropriate given Konare's stature and more 
practical since it would enable Permreps to understand 
directly from Konare what was needed.  Laboulaye said that if 
Konare met with the NAC, he should also meet with the EU PSC. 
 Charge said we had no problem with that.  Laboulaye, who 
stated that he had no religion on the matter, indicated a NAC 
meeting should not be a problem.  He said he was confident 
this was the view of the French government, but he would 
check once more. 
 
3.  (C) Laboulaye telephoned Charge subsequently to confirm 
that France had no problem with a NAC-Konare meeting.  He 
reiterated, however, French understanding that Konare had not 
requested such a meeting.  Charge said that should not deter 
NATO from offering it. 
 
4. (U) KHARTOUM MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
WOLFF