Cablegate: France Supportive of Voluntary Fund for Unscr 1540

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #1654 3411558
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071558Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7769
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1869
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 2761

UNCLAS PARIS 001654

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR TOM WUCHTE IN ISN/CPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER AORC UNSC KPAO FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTIVE OF VOLUNTARY FUND FOR UNSCR 1540
COMMITTEE

REF: STATE 122725

1. (SBU) During a December 7 meeting, MFA UNSCR 1540 Officer
Paul Furia said France is strongly in favor of the U.S.
proposal to establish a Voluntary Fund, as detailed in
reftel, to provide resources to the UN's 1540 Committee to be
used for technical assistance to UN member states in
fulfilling the WMD non-proliferation obligations of UNSCR
1540. Furia added that the projects to be supported through
a Voluntary Fund as suggested in the U.S. paper also
correspond with French priorities. He added that France was
especially interested in maximizing the effectiveness of
country missions and was looking to the upcoming mission to
the Democratic Republic of Congo as a test case for the
program.

2. (SBU) However, despite French support for the
establishment of a Voluntary Fund, Furia said current budget
constraints would make it difficult for France to make a
meaningful contribution. Instead, France was hoping for
funds to be made available through the EU. These could come
either directly from the Commission, which Furia believes has
sufficient funding to meet at least part of the approximately
$10 million required for the projects outlined in the U.S.
paper, or through combined member state action through the
European Council.
RIVKIN

© Scoop Media