US embassy cable - 05PARIS6303

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 006303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, FR, HA, KCRS 
SUBJECT: FRENCH AGREE ON NEED TO CONTINUE HAITIAN ELECTION 
MOMENTUM 
 
REF: STATE 165009 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to the new team of 
MFA officials responsible for Haiti issues: Pierre-Alain 
Coffinier, DAS-equivalent for Mexico, Central America, and 
the Caribbean; Cecile Merle, Haiti desk officer; and Benoit 
Guidee, UN desk officer covering Haiti.  Coffinier underlined 
that the GOF shared our assessment of the situation in Haiti. 
 The three MFA officials noted that the Provisional Electoral 
Council (CEP) had finally put forth an electoral calendar -- 
thanks primarily to MINUSTAH pressure.  They agreed with our 
position that the UN needed to exert greater influence in the 
administration of the elections, while at the same time 
keeping a "low profile" publicly to avoid local backlash. 
Coffinier confirmed GOF participation in the Friends of Haiti 
and ministerial meetings taking place in New York this week. 
Guidee added that the UN Core Group also shared the 
U.S./French analysis of the situation, but that the group's 
cohesiveness seemed to function better in Port-au-Prince than 
in New York. 
 
2.  (SBU) Coffinier also gave us a brief readout on the 
weekend trip to Haiti by Brigitte Girardin, Minister of 
Cooperation, Development, and French-speaking Communities. 
While there, Girardin signed agreements with the IGOH for 
grants of $1.83 million USD (1.5 million euros) for HIV/AIDS 
and $1.22 million USD (1 million euros) for education, in 
addition to the nearly $44 million USD (36 million euros) in 
annual aid from France.  Girardin also announced that the EU 
would unblock more than $87 million USD (72 million euros) in 
aid for Haiti. 
 
3.  (SBU) Additionally, Coffinier indicated that interim 
Prime Minister Latortue would travel to France October 20 and 
be received by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. 
STAPLETON