

Currently released so far... 5268 / 251,287
Articles
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
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
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 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 Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
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 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 Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
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
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08PARIS1855, MARCH 14 SHOOTS ITSELF IN FOOT DURING ELYSEE VISIT
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. #08PARIS1855.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08PARIS1855 | 2008-10-08 10:10 | 2011-02-25 00:12 | SECRET | Embassy Paris |
Appears in these articles: http://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/250211/boris-boillon-selon-les-cables-wikileaks-vantard-et-pas-toujours-compet |
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHFR #1855/01 2821011
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 081011Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4448
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0597
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1206
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0383
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0197
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T PARIS 001855
SIPDIS
NEA/FO FOR DAVID HALE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2023
TAGS: FR PREL PGOV KDEM PINS LE SY
SUBJECT: MARCH 14 SHOOTS ITSELF IN FOOT DURING ELYSEE VISIT
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Kathleen H. Allegrone, reas
ons 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (S) Summary: A March 14th delegation led by Lebanese MP
Marwan Hamadeh that met October 2 with senior French
officials may have done more harm than good, at least so far
as relations with the Elysee are concerned. "What world are
they living in?" Boris Boillon, Counselor for Middle East
Affairs at the Elysee, wondered as he listened to Hamadeh
express March 14th's concerns to French NSA-equivalent
Jean-David Levitte. Boillon's negative impression was sealed
when Hamadeh alluded to the possibility that the French and
Syrian armies were collaborating on a plan for the Syrian
re-occupation of Lebanon. Turning to Syria, Boillon
described several signs of possible progress by Syria,
including indications that Damascus will soon name an
ambassador to Beirut, and assurances from Qatar that Gilad
Shalit received a letter entrusted by his father to President
Sarkozy. End summary.
March 14 Makes a Hash of It
---------------------------
¶2. (S) PolMin/C and NEA Watcher met with Boris Boillon,
President Sarkozy's advisor for the Middle East and North
Africa, October 7 at the Elysee. Boillon provided a readout
on the October 2 meeting between MP Marwan Hamadeh, the head
of a March 14 delegation that included Suleiman Franjieh,
Dory Chamoun and Fares Sayed, and Jean-David Levitte,
President Sarkozy's NSA-equivalent. Recapping developments
over the last few months in Franco-Syrian relations, Boillon
said he and Levitte reassured Hamadeh that "everything we
have done is to ensure the security and independence of
Lebanon" and that the French have provided Damascus with a
clear road map, with benchmarks, for measuring Syrian
performance. They stressed that it was "out of the question"
for Syrian troops on the Lebanese border to violate Lebanon's
sovereignty, and said that if Damascus were to try anything
foolish it would face a "strong international coalition"
arrayed against it. Boillon recalled that during his visit
to Damascus, Sarkozy made clear to President Asad that France
would improve relations with Syria "step-by-step" but only so
long as Syria honored its commitments and respected two key
principles: the independence of Lebanon and the need for the
International Tribunal on the Hariri assassination. Finally,
in response to an apparent concern expressed by Hamadeh, the
two Frenchmen reassured him that the Elysee had no intention
of trying to reshape Lebanon's political leadership.
¶3. (S) While Hamadeh reportedly left reassured, the visit
seems to have further soured the Elysee on the March 14th
movement. Boillon, who met separately with the entire group,
expressed incredulity at the "stupid ideas" ("I'm sorry, but
there's no other word for them") which had seized the
delegation's imagination. Hamadeh apparently alluded at one
point to rumors that the French and Syrian armies are
collaborating on a plan for the Syrian military to reassert
control over Lebanon. "What world are they living in?
Either they're joking or they're truly crazy," Boillon
thought to himself at the time. Boillon accused March 14th
of living in a fantasy world fueled by a rumor-mongering
Lebanese press, much of which is sympathetic to the Lebanese
opposition. "Of course the opposition is going to claim that
France is backing them, that's part of the game," said
Boillon, who insisted that the March 14th leadership should
be smart enough not to believe such tripe. But the reality,
he lamented, is that March 14th is part and parcel of a
political culture mired in navel-gazing and paranoia.
Signs of Syrian Progress?
-------------------------
¶4. (S) On a more positive note, Boillon recounted several
encouraging signs with respect to Syrian behavior. First he
said that the French have received "proof," in the form of
assurances from the Qataris that the French have no reason to
question, that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit received
a letter entrusted by his father to President Sarkozy, and
that the Emir of Qatar later conveyed to Hamas politburo
chief Khalid Mishal. However, Boillon acknowledged that
negotiations for Shalit's release have stalled; he suggested
that Cairo was having difficulty finding a formula that would
satisfy Hamas and yet would not be exploited by Egypt's
Muslim Brotherhood. Second, Boillon said the French had
indications that later this month or in early November
Damascus would name its ambassador to Lebanon, thereby making
an exchange of ambassadors before the end of this year a
genuine possibility. Third, Boillon noted that the GOL and
the SARG had recently exchanged lists of prisoners as a first
step towards the possible release and repatriation of
Lebanese political prisoners held by Syria. Finally, Boillon
said that a joint GOL-SARG commission on border demarcation
had decided to move forward on mapping all areas of dispute
with the exception of the Sheba Farms.
No Informal Talks With Hamas
----------------------------
¶5. (S) Boillon (protect) dismissed a recent statement by FM
Kouchner in which Kouchner averred that France had no
official contacts with Hamas, but that the MFA received
information about Hamas from French NGOs active in Gaza. "He
should have simply said 'no official contacts and left it at
that' said Boillon. (Note: Kouchner's comments also earned a
stern rebuke on October 7 from his former NGO, Medecins Sans
Frontieres, which accused the FM of sowing confusion and
jeopardizing the security of NGO teams working with the
Palestinian population.)
Comment
-------
¶6. (S) Given the dramatic about-face in French policy towards
Syria since the end of the Chirac administration, March 14's
insecurity about the Elysee's thinking is understandable if
not inevitable. Nevertheless, it is unfortunate that Hamadeh
struck so many wrong notes during his meeting with Levitte,
as his performance will not make it any easier for March 14
to find a receptive ear in Sarkozy's circle of advisors.
Fortunately, the delegation left a more favorable impression
at the MFA. Ludovic Pouille (MFA DAS-equivalent for the
Levant) told us that he found Hamadeh's message "better than
expected" and noted that the delegation took pains to avoid
any hint of disappointment with the sea change in French
policy and instead focused on depicting March 14 as a
confident, united movement destined to win next year's
parliamentary elections.
STAPLETON
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHFR #1855/01 2821011
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 081011Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4448
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0597
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1206
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0383
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0197
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY