US embassy cable - 05PARIS3463

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003463 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR E, EB, SA AND EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2015 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, EFIN, ETRD, PGOV, PREL, AF, FR 
SUBJECT: G-8: FRENCH QUESTIONS ON REGIONAL DIALOGUE FOR 
AFGHANISTAN 
 
REF: STATE 91032 
 
Classified By: ECON Kenneth Merten as CONFIDENTIAL for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (U) This contains a request for guidance, see paragraph 5. 
 
2.  (C) Per ref request, Econ Chief discussed reftel talking 
points with Foreign Ministry G-8 Officer, Cyril Pierre. 
Pierre, was unaware of any prior discussion of such a 
regional dialogue on Afghanistan in the broader discussions 
in the framework of the G-8.  He noted that the goals as 
noted reftel were laudable and that France would probably 
have little difficulty in supporting the overall thrust of 
the initiative.  However, he said he would have to discuss 
the issue with his colleagues in the MFA's equivalent of the 
regional bureau before he could pronounce on that 
definitively. 
 
3.  (C) Pierre posed several questions the answers to which, 
he suggested, would help shape the GOF response.  He asked 
whether we were convinced that the G-8 was the best forum in 
which to support such a dialogue and whether we had explored 
other possibilities?  He opined that it was probably too late 
to include this in the preparations for the summit and noted 
that the British presidency and G-8 countries had already 
agreed to limit the focus to two other major issues; did we 
envision adding this item as a third?  He asked at what level 
did we envision this being discussed?  He offered that it 
would more than likely be prepared by the PolDirs and agreed 
upon at the Foreign Ministers' level.  Pierre was unaware of 
UK officials having contacted the GOF reporting on Foreign 
Secretary Straw's "receptivness" to Ambassador Khalizad's 
 
SIPDIS 
outline of the Dialogue. 
 
4.  (U) Poloff also presented reftel points to the MFA 
DAS-equivalent for South Asia, Anne Grillo-Nebout, and the 
Afghanistan Desk Officer Cyril Gerardon.  Geardon hoped to 
get back to us with a more detailed response during the week 
of 22 May. 
 
5.  (U) Request for guidance:  Embassy would appreciate 
guidance to respond to the questions Pierre posed in 
paragraph 3. 
WOLFF