US embassy cable - 05PARIS7885

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 007885 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MASS, PARM, FR, VE 
SUBJECT: FRENCH CONFLICTED ON ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA, BUT 
UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT PARITY ON BAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 207628 
 
     B. PARIS 7352 
     C. PARIS 7142 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) Summary: Pol/MC and PolOff delivered reftel A points 
November 16 to MFA A/S-equivalent Daniel Parfait, 
DAS-equivalent for South America Michel Pinard, and Venezuela 
desk officer Lionel Paradisi, and PolOff separately shared 
points with Admiral de Monval, responsible for Latin American 
issues in the MOD's Strategic Affairs department.  The MFA 
did not share our concerns about either the human rights 
situation in Venezuela or Chavez's destabilizing activities 
in the region.  The MOD, while more open to our perspective, 
indicated that GoF policy on this issue is being driven from 
the President's office.  Admiral de Monval indicated a French 
submarine sale to Venezuela is under discussion.  Parfait 
requested assistance in setting up a meeting as soon as 
feasible to meet with A/S Shannon to discuss Venezuela and 
other WHA matters of mutual interest; such a meeting would be 
an opportunity to share perspectives and information and, if 
possible, narrow differences.  End Summary. 
 
Human Rights 
------------ 
2.  (C) Parfait noted that prior to Chavez's recent visit to 
Paris, he had met with the president of the Venezuelan  NGO 
Sumate as well as visiting Chief of Station in Caracas David 
Fitzgerald in order to increase French dialogue on both sides 
of the Venezuelan debate.  The GoF has concluded for now 
that, while not perfect, the human rights 
situation is not as dire as the U.S. depicts it.  Responding 
specifically to freedom of the press and the media, Parfait 
stated that there were daily calls for the assassination of 
Chavez in the Venezuelan press -- and other declarations of 
the kind that would be illegal in France.  He also noted that 
there were no journalists imprisoned in Venezuela.  Parfait 
claimed that during his conversation with the NGO Sumate, 
that organization's president was unable to name any 
political prisoners, nor provide a concrete example of "a 
deteriorating human rights situation."  Parfait did 
acknowledge concern for potential abuse through property 
expropriation, but otherwise seemed unconcerned with the 
human rights situation in Venezuela, stating that France 
still had not seen any "smoking gun." 
 
Regional Instability 
-------------------- 
3.  (C) Parfait equally downplayed the role Chavez might play 
in destabilizing the region.  He said that given Venezuela's 
long and difficult-to-patrol border with Colombia, FARC 
members are able to find refuge in Venezuela, as they do in 
Brazil and Ecuador, allowing that the refuge might be 
"voluntary."  Parfait also admitted the possibility that 
Chavez was providing money to Evo Morales in Bolivia, 
although he had not seen evidence that the amount being 
provided would be enough to tip the scales in an election. 
He added that France was committed to seeing the upcoming 
Bolivian elections held with as much transparency as 
possible. 
 
Threat of Arms 
-------------- 
4.  (S) Parfait hypothesized that Chavez's efforts in 
securing arms and weapons were to satisfy his generals, 
thereby insulating himself against additional coup attempts. 
Parfait acknowledged the visit of the defense-related 
delegation to Venezuela, but did not elaborate further.  The 
MFA has previously indicated that the possibility of 
defense-related sales have been generally discussed in the 
past, but that no specifics have been under negotiation and 
that the issue was still being explored by the GoF (ref B). 
 
MOD Opposes Arms Sales 
---------------------- 
5.  (S) In a conversation with PolOff, MOD Admiral de Monval, 
responsible for Latin American issues in the Strategic 
Affairs department, welcomed being apprised of our new 
approach not to transfer or sell lethal arms and munitions to 
Venezuela.  He noted that the MOD shared the U.S. position on 
arms sales to that country.  De Monval (protect) also 
confided that the MOD had not been consulted on a proposed 
sale of submarines (NFI) to Venezuela, which the Ministry 
opposes.  The MOD is seeking to influence the final 
Presidential decision on this issue, but so far without 
success. 
 
Comment 
------- 
6.  (S) There is clearly a debate within the GoF on the sale 
of military technology and arms to Venezuela.  The MOD seems 
more wary of Chavez and his intentions.  However, the policy 
appears to be driven by President Chirac, who is much more 
open to increased cooperation with Venezuela, as evidenced by 
the exceedingly warm welcome extended to Chavez during his 
October visit (ref B).  For its part, the MFA's long-held 
complacency with regard to Venezuela remains unaltered.  Post 
judges it is unlikely that the French will refrain from 
military sales to Venezuela, and may well go ahead with 
proposed sales of submarines.  End Comment. 
 
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm 
 
Stapleton