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Viewing cable 09PARIS290, FRANCE: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09PARIS290 2009-02-27 16:00 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Paris
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #0290 0581600
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271600Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5638
UNCLAS PARIS 000290 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/CT FOR SHARRI R. CLARK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PGOV PINS ASEC EFIN ENRG KCIP FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE: CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 15113 
 
1. Embassy Paris notes no significant developments since last 
year with respect to GOF actions to protect critical 
infrastructure.  After mission-wide consultation, Embassy 
Paris did not identify any physical infrastructure or 
resources in France whose loss would immediately affect the 
security, national economic security, and/or national public 
health or safety of the United States.  Our CI/KR report is 
therefore negative. 
 
2. GOF ACTIONS TO PROTECT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE:  Critical 
infrastructure protection is a high priority for France, with 
particular attention paid to airports, seaports, public 
transit systems, and nuclear reactors.  The GOF, under the 
auspices of the Interior Ministry, developed a national 
security plan in 1978 known as Vigipirate to respond to 
terrorist threats.  Vigipirate consists of four threat 
levels, each of which activates certain protocols aimed at 
reinforcing security, including critical infrastructure.  The 
evaluation of possible threats is updated regularly.  Both 
the national police and the military assist in security, as 
appropriate.  The GOF also has specialized plans in place to 
deal with specific threats, such as chemical or biological 
attacks. Furthermore, the 2008 French White Paper on Defense 
and National Security, a strategic appraisal of France,s 
security interests, dictated enhanced safeguards against 
cyber attacks, health-related crises, and threats to energy 
and strategic raw materials supply. 
 
3. The Vigipirate system consists of four threat levels: (1) 
Yellow:  Emphasize vigilance against real but indefinite 
threats using localized measures;  (2) Orange:  Warning of a 
possible terrorist attack, preparation for higher threat 
level;  (3) Red:  Known risk of one or several serious 
attacks, put in place necessary emergency and counter-attack 
measures;  (4) Scarlet:  Known risk of major attacks, 
possibly simultaneous, and could cause disastrous effects, 
all necessary security measures must be taken. 
 
4. France has been operating at threat level Red since the 
London bombings on July 7, 2005. 
PEKALA