US embassy cable - 05PARIS7954

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 007954 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, AORC, PREF, IS, SZ, FR, ICRC 
SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTIVE ON ADDITIONAL GENEVA PROTOCOL, 
DESPITE FLAWS 
 
REF: STATE 206948 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah B. Rosenblatt.  Reas 
ons 1.4b,d 
 
1.  (C) Poloff met November 21 with MFA DAS-Equivalent 
Beatrice Le Fraper du Hellen to encourage more vocal French 
engagement on behalf of the draft Third Additional Protocol, 
particularly with Francophone African states.  Le Fraper 
responded that France had been working closely with the Swiss 
in support of the 5-6 December 2005 conference.  Moreover, to 
facilitate swift adoption of the protocol, France had stifled 
its own legal objections to Article 5 of the draft, which 
authorizes persons participating "in operations under the 
auspices of the UN" to wear "distinctive symbols." 
 
2.  (C) Sonia Dona Perez, IO Desk Officer for Social and 
Labor Issues, explained that Quai d'Orsay lawyers objected to 
the imprecision of Article 5 as now drafted.  The language on 
participating in "operations under the auspices of the UN" 
was vague and open to interpretation.  Additionally, the 
authorization of "distinctive symbols" opened the door for 
states to adopt a wide range of religious paraphernalia 
within these operations.  France instead preferred a direct 
reference to use of a neutral red diamond emblem, an option 
discounted during the 2000 negotiations.  Should the draft be 
reopened, Le Fraper alerted poloff that MFA lawyers would 
again advance these objections. 
 
3.  (C) Etienne Chapon, "Israel/Peace Process" MFA Desk 
Officer, asked, with regard to Magen David Adom (MDA) 
activities, whether the Government of Israel and the 
Palestinian Authority had reached an accord on services for 
East Jerusalem.  Le Fraper chimed in to ask USG views about 
reported disagreements between MDA and the Government of 
Israel.  Le Fraper declined to predict passage of the draft 
Third Additional Protocol, stating developments on the ground 
could yet have a decisive impact. 
 
Guantanamo 
---------- 
 
4.  (C) Turning to Guantanamo, Le Fraper asked, "as a good 
European," whether the USG would try to resolve the deadlock 
with the UN over the proposed visits by human rights 
monitors.  Le Fraper said that the anticipated visits had 
provided necessary cover for the EU to turn back more 
virulent criticisms in Geneva. 
 
 
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm 
 
Stapleton