Cablegate: France On Syria's Clandestine Nuclear Program

VZCZCXRO9948
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHFR #0824 1191609
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281609Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2825
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 1498
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2722

UNCLAS PARIS 000824

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM IAEA DPRK FR SY
SUBJECT: FRANCE ON SYRIA'S CLANDESTINE NUCLEAR PROGRAM

REF: STATE 43817

1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel points April 24 per an
exchange of cables reported separately.

2. (U) The French MFA reported the following exchange at
its April 25 press briefing between reporters and its
spokesperson, Pascale Andreani (the English translation comes
from the French MFA's website):

Begin text:

Andreani: We were in contact yesterday with the Americans at
their initiative, and we exchanged analyses and intelligence.

It is essential for Syria to give a full accounting of its
past and present nuclear activities in accordance with its
international obligations, particularly with respect to the
IAEA. The secret construction of a nuclear reactor would be
a serious violation of Syria's non-proliferation obligations.

We also remain very concerned about North Korea's
proliferation activities. UN Security Council resolution
1718 prohibits any export of sensitive goods from North Korea.

We hope that North Korea, as it pledged at the Six-party
discussions, makes a complete and verifiable declaration of
all its nuclear programs, including its external
proliferation activities.

Q: About Syria's nuclear activities. You have to prove that
these are military nuclear activities because civilian
activities are permitted.

A: That's what we're talking about. We have doubts with
respect to some of Syria's activities, and we're asking Syria
to act in accordance with its international obligations,
particularly with respect to the IAEA.

End text.

Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm

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