US embassy cable - 05PARIS4803

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004803 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2006 
TAGS: PREL, FR, UNSC 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON G-4 FRAMEWORK RESOLUTION ON UN REFORM: 
 FRENCH VIEWS 
 
REF: A. STATE 126870 
     B. STATE 124891 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) PolMinCouns made ref A points to MFA IO Director 
Jean-Maurice Ripert July 8.  Ripert said that the GOF 
understands the U.S. position on both the substance of the 
G-4 proposal, and on the process to get to both UNSC 
enlargement and other necessary UN reforms.  While 
understanding our rationale, France's consideration of the 
issue leads it to different conclusions, which can be summed 
up as follows: 
 
-- The G-4 proposal belongs to the G-4; they have every right 
to decide how to proceed with their initiative, including 
when to bring it to a head.  While the U.S. may be of the 
view that addressing UNSC reform together with the rest of 
our package offers the best prospects for both, the French 
view is that agreement on UNSC reform -- an issue which has 
dragged on for 15 years and is overripe for resolution -- 
would provide a propitious context to achieve the optimum 
outcome on the larger reform package.  Ripert was not swayed 
by the argument that such a sequence would not work, and that 
a G-4 failure, or a drawn-out, contentious process, was 
hardly the context for pushing through the other reforms that 
France says it supports. 
 
-- Regarding the substance of the G-4 proposal, Ripert said 
that France was comfortable with a Council of 25.  France's 
own determination of what kind of representation is needed to 
give the Council the desired additional "legitimacy" leads it 
to an enlarged Council closely resembling that put forward by 
the G-4.  The GOF did not think the loss in efficiency and 
effectiveness would be as substantial as the U.S. contends. 
 
3. (C) Taking the opportunity to address a related matter -- 
the portion of U/S Burns' letter (ref B) on the draft 
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism -- Ripert 
asked if the U.S. was concerned that a resumption of Sixth 
Committee negotiations in late July risked complicating 
efforts to come to closure on the terrorism paragraph in the 
Ping declaration.  Just a thought, he said, but one he hoped 
we'd consider. 
STAPLETON