

Currently released so far... 12646 / 251,287
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
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
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 Belmopan
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
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
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 Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
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 Suva
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 St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
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 Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AEMR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
ACOA
ASIG
AADP
AGR
ANET
ADPM
AMCHAMS
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AGMT
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BT
BP
BX
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CR
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CFED
CODEL
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CARSON
COPUOS
CIA
CL
CN
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
EPET
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
ENIV
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ENVR
ESENV
ENNP
ERNG
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
EXIM
ELECTIONS
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IT
IO
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IDP
IGAD
ILC
ITRA
ICTR
ITU
IBET
ITF
INRA
INRO
INTELSAT
IEFIN
IRC
IRAQI
ITALY
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INRB
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KSEP
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KIRF
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KSEO
KVPR
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KO
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCGC
KVIR
KFSC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KX
KMFO
KR
KMOC
KRIM
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KPAI
KICA
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MARAD
MG
MTRE
MASC
MW
MRCRE
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NGO
NR
NATIONAL
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OECD
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PDOV
PHUMPGOV
PCI
PTBS
PEL
PG
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
POGOV
POV
PRAM
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PMIL
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PRL
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
ROOD
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SPCE
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SNARCS
SH
SAARC
STEINBERG
SG
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SWE
SHI
SEN
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
TF
THPY
TP
TBID
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UNMIK
UY
UNCHR
UNO
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCND
UNCHC
UNCSD
USUN
USOAS
UNFCYP
USNC
UNIDROIT
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07PARIS2888, CODEL WEXLER STAFFERS DISCUSS EU-TURKEY AT MFA
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. #07PARIS2888.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07PARIS2888 | 2007-07-03 17:08 | 2011-04-15 16:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Paris |
VZCZCXRO2664
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHFR #2888/01 1841708
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 031708Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8722
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0213
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 002888
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/01/2017
TAGS: PREL FR EUN TU CY AR UNO
SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER STAFFERS DISCUSS EU-TURKEY AT MFA
Classified By: PolMC Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (B & D).
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a July 7 meeting with Representative
Wexler's Staff Director, MFA officials offered a broad
overview of French reasoning behind Sarkozy's opposition to
Turkish EU membership; his proposal for an EU discussion
before the end of the year on fixing the EU's final borders;
his commitment nonetheless to allow accession negotiations
with Turkey to proceed on those chapters not judged
incompatible with a status short of membership; the
calculation that Turkey has few options other than to remain
linked to the West irrespective of whether it accedes to the
EU; measures Turkey could take to improve its image among the
French electorate, including on Cyprus; and Sarkozy's
admittedly vague Mediterranean Union proposal. There was a
brief discussion of SAA process with Serbia. END SUMMARY.
¶2. (SBU) In the framework of Representative Robert Wexler's
(D-FL) July 2-3 meetings in Paris (septels), Staff Director
Jonathan Katz and staffer Beverly Razon met July 3 with FM
Kouchner cabinet advisor for EU affairs Jean-Louis Falconi,
DAS-equivalent for EU external relations Caroline Ferrari,
and DAS-equivalent for Southern Europe Marine de Carne to
discuss the status of French views on Turkey-EU relations.
POL Deputy and Poloff also attended.
No to Turkish EU Membership
---------------------------
¶3. (C) Katz gave a brief presentation on the importance of
Turkey for U.S. interests, including in Iraq and Afghanistan,
noted Sarkozy's and Kouchner's apparently differing views on
Turkish accession (see septels), and asked for a status
report on Turkey's EU accession negotiations. In response,
Ferrari noted that Sarkozy had been elected with a clear
mandate to refuse Turkish EU membership and reviewed French
intentions to schedule a discussion within the EU, before the
end of the year, on the EU's geographic limits. She insisted
that Turkey understood and respected Sarkozy's position on
Turkish membership, and vice versa, adding that,
paradoxically, French-Turkish relations were actually on the
mend.
Accession Negotiations May Continue
-----------------------------------
¶4. (C) Ferrari stated that France did not intend to
interrupt the accession negotiation process, as demonstrated
by the recent EU decision to open two more chapters, and
stated French willingness to open an additional two in the
near future. However, Ferrari also made clear that France
would agree to open only those chapters judged to be
compatible with a final status falling short of EU
membership. (NOTE: Ferrari and Falconi were unable to
specify precisely which 5 chapters of the 35 total France
does not wish to open, despite their long familiarity with
the subject matter. Ferrari said deliberations were ongoing
within the GOF. Falconi speculated that the chapters would
have to be those dealing with institutions, economic and
monetary union (blocked in the last two weeks), financial
contributions, and privileges and rights of members. END
NOTE.)
Time to Debate EU Borders
-------------------------
¶5. (C) Asked which other EU members supported the French
approach on Turkey, Ferrari explained that the GOF plan was
merely to initiate a debate on the EU's borders by the end of
the year, not to bring it to conclusion. Domestically, this
was necessary as a means to demonstrate to French electors
that their concerns about EU enlargement generally and Turkey
more specifically, which were at the root of French rejection
of the EU constitutional treaty, were being taken seriously.
Sarkozy understood that this was a divisive question, but he
also believed that an open debate would be beneficial to all.
France did not want a crisis with Turkey, and in fact
Sarkozy strongly believed in the necessity of a strong
EU-Turkey relationship: on political, economic, and strategic
grounds. It was just that he also believed it should take
the form of something other than EU membership. Katz
cautioned that a sense of humiliation and being considered as
"not good enough" for the EU risked alienating Turkey from
Europe.
Door Not Closed Irrevocably
---------------------------
¶6. (C) Falconi (who arrived late to the meeting) added that
France viewed Turkey as "a special situation." He insisted
that Sarkozy's rejection of EU membership for Turkey was
based not on fear of Turkey or Erdogan, but on broader
questions of EU identity. He said France understood that
Turkey would have slightly different policies, with Carne
adding that there was no "third way" for Turkey somewhere
between the Middle East and the West. Aligning itself with
PARIS 00002888 002 OF 003
Hamas or Syria or Iran was not an answer. Echoing Ferrari's
earlier remarks, Falconi said it was important never to
forget that the EU was a political project; Turkish
membership had the potential to call that into question,
notwithstanding the promises that might have been made, and
questions that were never asked, in the past. He remarked
that the EU had a history of proceeding by "non-decisions"
rather than by "decisions," and Sarkozy was determined to put
all questions on the table. He insisted that the planned
working group to discuss the EU's borders did not close the
door to Turkish membership completely, since France was still
willing to talk.
Cyprus
------
¶7. (C) Katz asked if France had taken an active role in
pushing the EU to fulfill its promises to northern Cyprus in
the wake of Cypriot rejection of the UN plan, noting the
importance for Turkey of easing the economic isolation of
northern Cypriot community. Ferrari commented that the best
efforts of various EU presidencies had resulted in failure,
although it was not clear who was to blame. She indicated
that France had attempted to encourage the Cypriot government
to be flexible. Carne defended the EU record, saying it had
followed through on 2 of its 3 commitments. She added that
it was difficult for the Turks and Cypriots alike to show
flexibility during election periods, but this could change if
current Cypriot President Papadopoulos were not re-elected,
as now appeared possible. She also noted that northern
Cypriot leader Talat had rejected additional assistance.
Katz interjected that he wanted direct trade, not assistance.
(COMMENT: At no time did Carne suggest that the EU was in
the least responsible for creating the current impasse by
allowing Cypriot membership in the absence of a UN solution.
END COMMENT.)
What Turkey Can Do
------------------
¶8. (C) Carne suggested that Turkish PM Erdogan consider
reducing the Turkish troop presence on Cyprus, commenting
that Europe's citizens had difficulty imagining how any
European country could have troops on its territory. She
suggested that the Turks could also do more to improve their
relations with Armenia and with the Kurds. During a brief
discussion of the status of U.S. and French parliamentary
consideration of Armenian "genocide" resolutions, Carne
suggested that Turkish actions to recognize its role and/or
to improve relations with Armenia could eventually help
change Turkey's image among the French people. She gave a
brief review of Turkish retaliatory measures (contracts and
military overflight clearances) in response to the National
Assembly's passage of legislation criminalizing the denial of
the "genocide," concluding that relations were now returning
to normal. In a brief discussion of the Turkish elections,
Carne indicated that the GOF favored the AKP party because it
viewed Erdogan's government as perhaps more religious, but
ultimately also "less dogmatic."
Mediterranean Union
-------------------
¶9. (C) Katz asked Sarkozy's proposal for a Mediterranean
Union was intended primarily to deal with the Turkish
question. Falconi was insistent that Sarkozy's proposal for
a Med Union was not intended as a means to avoid the Turkish
question. Sarkozy was a direct man who did not need devious
machinations. That said, France's thinking on the
Mediterranean Union remained to be fleshed out. The GOF was
not sure whether it should be open to all countries on the
Mediterranean or a subset; whether it might be advisable to
begin with a subset and expand; or what its policy objectives
should be. Calling it "an enormous political project" but
also a complicated one, he described the overarching goal of
the Med Union as one of promoting more unity and common
values and of overcoming the division of the Med into north
and south.
Serbia
------
¶10. (C) In a brief discussion of Serbia/Kosovo, Ferrari
assured Katz that Serbia was on the path to EU membership; it
was a question of "when" rather than "whether," unlike
Turkey. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA)
process had been relaunched and could technically be
completed in 2-3 months, but concluding would depend on
whether Serbia decided to cooperate with the ICTY and hand
over war criminals.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
PARIS 00002888 003 OF 003
STAPLETON