

Currently released so far... 6230 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AF
AE
AR
AORC
AJ
AU
AM
ABLD
AL
AMGT
ASUP
AFIN
APER
ABUD
AVERY
APCS
AEMR
ADCO
APECO
ASIG
AG
AA
AS
AFFAIRS
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AMED
AO
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ATRN
AID
AC
AGMT
CH
CO
CS
CE
CU
CLINTON
CG
CVIS
CMGT
CI
CJAN
CF
COM
CASC
CA
CBW
CM
CDG
CR
COUNTER
CD
CWC
CKGR
CN
CPAS
CJUS
CV
CONS
CT
CY
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
ECON
EFIN
EAIR
EUN
EINV
ENRG
EG
ETRD
EPET
ETTC
ELAB
EU
ER
ET
EAGR
ECPS
ECIN
ELTN
EAID
EMIN
EWWT
EFIS
EIND
EC
ES
EN
EI
ENVR
ENGR
ENIV
EUNCH
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELN
EZ
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EINT
EUR
ECINECONCS
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IN
IC
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
IT
ICTY
IO
IA
IWC
ID
ICRC
ILC
INTELSAT
IMO
ISRAELI
IACI
ILO
ITRA
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
ICAO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
INTERPOL
IV
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KDEM
KCRM
KJUS
KTIA
KWBG
KPAL
KIPR
KTIP
KE
KNNP
KGHG
KICC
KV
KTFN
KU
KCFE
KDRG
KWMN
KSCA
KGIC
KCOR
KFRD
KPKO
KSUM
KPRP
KPAO
KBCT
KIRF
KCFC
KISL
KREC
KSPR
KHIV
KBIO
KMCA
KMPI
KFLU
KSTH
KBTR
KS
KOMC
KOMS
KSEP
KPRV
KFLO
KHLS
KN
KWWMN
KUNR
KLIG
KSTC
KZ
KG
KRAD
KOLY
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KAWK
KCIP
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KIDE
KSAF
KX
KWMNCS
KNEI
KCRS
KVPR
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KACT
KO
KFSC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MO
MX
MCAP
ML
MTCRE
MR
MP
MY
MU
MIL
MAR
MC
MRCRE
MTRE
MA
MEPI
MV
MPOS
MD
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OREP
OVIP
OFDP
ODIP
OPDC
OAS
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPRC
OVP
OSCI
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PREF
PTER
PARM
PBTS
PINR
PINS
PHSA
PK
POL
PM
PINT
PE
PINF
PEL
PA
PARMS
PO
PLN
PROP
PALESTINIAN
PAO
PL
POV
PG
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
SENV
SY
SZ
SOCI
SO
SR
SNAR
SA
SP
SW
SMIG
SU
SCUL
SC
SAN
SN
SL
SG
SYR
SEVN
SF
SI
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TRGY
TU
TBIO
TH
TS
TSPL
TT
TPHY
TSPA
TI
TK
TIP
TERRORISM
TZ
TX
TW
TD
TP
TC
TO
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TURKEY
UK
UNGA
UN
UNHRC
UNMIK
UNO
UZ
UNSC
UP
UG
UNHCR
UNDC
US
UNAUS
USTR
UV
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UAE
USEU
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05PARIS1142, ARNAUD LAGARDERE ON BOEING/AIRBUS, CHIRAC AND THE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05PARIS1142.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05PARIS1142 | 2005-02-23 12:12 | 2011-02-10 08:08 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Paris |
Appears in these articles: http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/documents-wikileaks/article/2011/02/09/wikileaks-les-visiteurs-de-l-ambassade_1477418_1446239.htm |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001142
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/ERA, EB/TPP
STATE PASS TO USTR (VERONEAU, NOVELLI, SANFORD)
COMMERCE FOR GRANT ALDONAS AND FRED ELLIOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2015
TAGS: ETRD EAIR SCUL FR WTRO USTR
SUBJECT: ARNAUD LAGARDERE ON BOEING/AIRBUS, CHIRAC AND THE
MEDIA
REF: A. 04 PARIS 9014 B. PARIS 372
Classified By: Econ Minister-Counselor Thomas J. White for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador hosted Lagardere group CEO (and
EADS shareholder) Arnaud Lagardere at lunch February 18.
Discussion focused on Lagardere/EADS business plans,
Boeing/Airbus, President Chirac and media industry
developments. Lagardere had unvarnished criticism for
President Chirac. On Airbus, he said that the A350 was a
priority, would be a completely new aircraft (like Boeing,s
787), and would require European launch aid. Nonetheless, he
understands the importance of finding a workable solution to
the Boeing/Airbus dispute. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (U) The Ambassador hosted Arnaud Lagardere, CEO of the
Lagardere Group, for lunch on February 18. DCM, ECON and FCS
Minister-Counselors also participated. The Lagardere Group
has extensive media holdings in France and around the world,
and owns 15 percent of the European Aeronautic Defense and
Space Company (EADS). EADS in turn owns 80 percent of
Airbus. Lagardere inherited his role from his father, Jean
Luc Lagardere, founder of the group and a driving force
behind the creation of EADS and Airbus.
-------------------
LAGARDERE ON CHIRAC
-------------------
¶3. (C) Lagardere had rather scathing criticism for French
President Chirac. Sporting a &Paris 20128 lapel pin
promoting the city,s Summer 2012 Olympic bid, Lagardere said
that Paris is well-placed to win the contest, but differences
between Chirac and Paris, Socialist Mayor have recently
surfaced. Lagardere opined that Chirac messes up everything
he gets involved in. Similarly, Lagardere termed
&ridiculous8 Chirac,s desire to see the launch of a French
language CNN-style news operation. He lamented that a lot of
money will be thrown at this project. &It will be done, but
we will pay.8
¶4. (C) Regarding the 2007 Presidential elections, Lagardere
) who claims a good relationship with UMP President Nicolas
Sarkozy ) says there is a 100% chance that Sarkozy will run.
Lagardere believes Chirac is also quite likely to run, which
in his view could open up space for Socialist leader Francois
Hollande.
-------------------------------------
LAGARDERE,S COMMITMENT TO EADS/AIRBUS
-------------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) There has been frequent speculation that the
Lagardere group, primarily a media conglomerate, may want to
shed its stake in EADS in the next few years. Asked about
the prospect, Lagardere said that he has a 5-8 year horizon
(¬ three years8) for doing so. (Comment. His
subsequent comments suggest this timeline may be designed to
see the A350 project come to fruition. End Comment.) A
Chirac victory in 2007 would hasten his exit, he said, while
a Sarkozy victory would probably mean the later timeline.
¶6. (C) Lagardere characterized as a &mistake8 the decision
to remove Philippe Camus as French co-head of EADS and to
replace him with current Airbus President Noel Forgeard.
(Comment. Forgeard is a Chirac protege, and Chirac forced
the change. The Lagardere and GOF ownership in EADS is held
in a holding company, each owning half of the 30% stake. The
Camus-Forgeard rivalry is spelled out in ref A. Camus, on
the other hand, has been a long-time Lagardere lieutenant,
and will return to the Lagardere media operation when he
leaves Airbus this summer. End Comment.) Lagardere said
that Camus would take some time this summer to pursue his
U.S. permanent resident status, and assume management of the
Lagardere U.S. interests. Camus, like Lagardere, owns a home
in the U.S., and both plan U.S. university training for their
children. Lagardere joked that he had given Camus &the
virus8 (i.e., a love of the U.S.).
¶7. (C) There will be tensions within EADS given the styles of
new co-chairs Forgeard and Thomas Enders, according to
Lagardere. He listed three names on the short list for the
new President of Airbus: Eurocopter CEO Fabrice Bregier,
Airbus Executive VP for Operations Gerard Blanc (not well
liked by the Germans, according to Lagardere) and Airbus
Chief Operating Officer Gustav Humbert. Humbert, a German
national, is the dark horse for what will most likely be a
French position at the head of Airbus. Historically, within
Airbus, a French manager always reported to a German
supervisor and vice versa.
¶8. (C) Lagardere says that Germany was not happy with the
Forgeard/Camus episode and with GOF interest in pushing a
single (French) CEO for EADS. German Chancellor Schroeder,s
call for a possible Russian stake in EADS during the A380
unveiling in Toulouse last month (ref B) was his way of
expressing his displeasure with the French. Lagardere says
his relations with fellow EADS shareholder and
Daimler-Chrysler Chairman Juergen Schremp are quite good, and
Lagardere is considering joining the Daimler-Chrysler board
at Schremp,s invitation.
-----------------------
AIRBUS READIES THE A350
-----------------------
¶9. (SBU) The planned Airbus A350, which will compete with
Boeing,s 787, will be a completely new aircraft. Airbus has
decided not to build it on an A330/340 base, as initially
envisioned. Lagardere said that Airbus is committed to the
project, and cannot allow the 787 to monopolize this market
segment. Airbus will need launch aid to produce the
aircraft, which will not be ready before 2010. He lamented
that 60 percent of Airbus, costs are Euro-denominated, while
100 percent of Airbus sales are in dollars. Lagardere
indicated that an initial launch customer could be announced
in about two months, hinting that it would not be Dubai, but
might be Qatar.
¶10. (SBU) Lagardere believes that Boeing will only achieve
70-80 percent of its planned sales of the 787, still an
impressive achievement in his view. On the other hand, he
believes Airbus can sell up to 1000 models of its superjumbo
A380. He foresees a turndown in the world aircraft market
looking out to 2008-09. He noted that the Mideast market is
currently booming (the A380 has done well there), but
airlines there are probably overbuying.
¶11. (C) Lagardere says he has not yet met Boeing CEO Harry
Stonecipher. The Ambassador encouraged him to do so,
pointing out that Stonecipher knew Arnaud,s father, Jean Luc
Lagardere, and had commented to the Ambassador late last year
that he (Stonecipher) and Jean Luc could have resolved the
Boeing/Airbus dispute.
----------------
FRANCE AND CHINA
----------------
¶12. (C) In an interesting aside, Lagardere called French
President Chirac,s December 2004 visit to China a
&disaster8 for French business. Airbus, Alstom and Alcatel
all came away relatively empty-handed, despite earlier
Chinese hints of major announcements during the visit.
Lagardere noted that the French press was quick to question
whether Chirac had &lost his touch.8
-------------------------
LAGARDERE MEDIA EXPANSION
-------------------------
¶13. (SBU) Eighty percent of the Lagardere Group,s revenue
comes from its media business. The group has diversified
holdings around the world (e.g., 245 magazine titles in 36
countries). Lagardere is considering some additional
acquisitions in the U.S. market and is in discussion with
Henry Kravis, Primedia Inc. for some magazine titles and
with Rupert Murdoch,s media conglomerate.
Leach