Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PARIS1732, FRANCE ON EXPANDING UN PARTICIPATION OF DEPENDENT

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #06PARIS1732.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PARIS1732 2006-03-17 16:30 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Paris
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 001732 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
MONTEVIDEO FOR U.S. DELEGATION TO ECLAC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL FR PGOV ECON XL UNO ECLAC
SUBJECT: FRANCE ON EXPANDING UN PARTICIPATION OF DEPENDENT 
TERRITORIES 
 
REF: STATE 41363 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please Treat Accordingly. 
 
1.  Deputy Polcouns discussed reftel points on rights of 
dependent territories March 16 and again March 17 with MFA IO 
Political Affairs DAS-equivalent Jean-Hughes Simon-Michel, 
whose office is also responsible for decolonization issues 
but does not deal directly with the UN Economic Commission 
for Latin America and the Caribbean.  We spoke separately 
March 17 with IO Latin American desk officer Bernard Guidee 
to follow up further. 
 
2.  Both Simon-Michel and Guidee stated that France fully 
shared the U.S. view that it is not appropriate for other 
countries to decide on the nature of the participation of 
non-autonomous territories.  France would have objections 
similar to those of the U.S. if other countries were to make 
similar proposals affecting one of its overseas territories. 
 
3. Both Simon-Michel and Guidee clarified that France would 
support the U.S. position on this issue despite the fact, in 
this specific case, that the French territories located in 
Latin American and the Caribbean are all overseas 
"departments" rather than "territories," and thus not be 
subject to the draft resolutions in question.  French 
departments, even overseas, are considered to be simple 
extensions of the French mainland, where French law applies 
fully, as in the case of Hawaii for the U.S.  (Note:  Under 
the French "DOM-TOM" designation, Guadeloupe, Martinique, 
French Guyana, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Reunion are 
all overseas departments, whereas New Caledonia and French 
Polynesia are territories.) 
 
4. Neither Simon-Michel nor Guidee were personally familiar 
with the specific UN Economic Commission discussed reftel, 
but undertook to find out more about their delegations 
instructions for the March 20-24 meeting.  After further 
consultations within the MFA, however, Guidee subsequently 
reconfirmed the French position as stated above and informed 
us that Paris would instruct the French delegation to the 
March 20-24 ECLAC session to join the U.S. in opposing the 
resolution. 
 
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
 
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm 
 
Stapleton