US embassy cable - 05PARIS4562

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NP/RA AND EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, MNUC, ETTC, IR, FR 
SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY FRENCH REACTION TO EXECUTIVE ORDER ON 
PROLIFERATION FINANCING 
 
REF: STATE 119909 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reason 1 
.4 B/D 
 
1. (C) We shared June 28 reftel talking points with the MFA's 
Disarmament Office Deputy Veronique Vouland, previewing the 
planned release of the Executive Order on proliferation 
financing and asking for French support.  Vouland, 
accompanied by disarmament desk officer Etienne de 
Gonneville, took note of the aim of the Executive Order, 
adding that France shared U.S. concerns against proliferation 
of WMD.  She stated, however, that she could only provide us 
with a preliminary reaction as key MFA officials, including 
Political Director Stanislas Laboulaye and Disarmament 
DAS-equivalent director Francois Richier were in Berlin for 
EU3 consultations on Iran.  Vouland expressed appreciation 
for the advance notice, but also suggested that timing of our 
consultation did not allow much time for an official 
reaction.  Any public French reaction, if one is decided 
upon, would not likely be made until the MFA's June 30 press 
briefing. 
 
2. (C) Vouland and de Gonneville also wondered about the 
potential impact of our announcement, coming on the heels of 
Iranian elections, on the EU3's discussions with Iran.  She 
referred to the June 27 Washington Post article on this 
subject and asked whether we had the names of any specific 
Iranian entities to be cited.  We noted that the list would 
be made public in conjunction with the release of the 
Executive Order.  In terms of specifics, they also asked how 
this executive order differed from existing sanctions we have 
against Iran and if the EO represented a new U.S. strategy on 
Iran.  We noted that the EO is not directed exclusively at 
Iran and that it is designed to more effectively plug 
loopholes in WMD trafficking.  Our MFA interlocutors inquired 
if entities from other countries, such as Pakistan or France, 
would also be cited in the planned announcement. 
 
WOLFF