US embassy cable - 05PARIS4105

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004105 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: AORC, EAID, EFIN, PGOV, PREL, FR, HA, UN 
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO HAITIAN ELECTIONS BUDGET 
SHORTFALL DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 101620 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, for reas 
ons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA 
DAS-equivalent for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean 
Gilles Bienvenu June 8.  Bienvenu lamented the rising 
electoral costs and noted that poor choices had been made in 
the process.  He indicated that while the EU would supplement 
its contribution, France would be unable to provide 
additional bilateral funds for the Haitian elections. 
Bienvenu added that a proposal would be forthcoming in 
Brussels to allow EU funds to go directly to the GOH.  Reftel 
points have also been passed to the French USAID-equivalent, 
and any response will be reported septel. 
 
2.  (C) Bienvenu commented that MFA A/S for WHA-equivalent 
Daniel Parfait was in Port-au-Prince and would meet with A/S 
Noreiga during his visit.  Bienvenu asked for further 
information regarding press reports that the USG was 
considering sending Marines to augment security forces during 
the elections.  Poloff did not comment on unconfirmed press 
reports, but asked if the GOF was considering sending forces. 
 Bienvenu confided that sending a contingent of French troops 
was under consideration, but that no decision had yet been 
made.  He added that if French troops were sent, they might 
not be put officially under MINUSTAH command, according to 
Bienvenu.  Nevertheless, he stated, they would have a UN 
Security Council mandate, and he insisted that additional 
forces from any country should have the same.  Regarding the 
recent draw-down by the U.S. Embassy, Bienvenu understood the 
need to guarantee the safety of Embassy personnel, but 
lamented that the move added to the climate of insecurity. 
WOLFF