This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

111348Z May 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 PARIS 003189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/R/E (CAROL GRABAUSKAS; STEVE TAYLOR); 
EUR/PPD (LILLIAN DEVALCOURT) 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC SCUL FR
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP - NOMINATION AND PART I BIODATA ONE 
PRINCIPAL CANDIDATE AND ONE ALTERNATE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL 
PROGRAM "JOURNALIST ON FOREIGN POLICY AND THE U.S. SOCIETY". 
 
REF: 
 
POST WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ONE PRINCIPAL CANDIDATE FOR 
SUBJECT PROGRAM: MR. LUCAS MENGET. ONE ALTERNATE IS NOMINATED 
FOR SUBJECT: MR. ERWAN GUEHO. 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: PaillardS@state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Paris 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 14544 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGE 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 282 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: FY 2006 - INDIVIDUAL Program for Journalist on 
Foreign Policy and the U.S. Society 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Individual 
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor 
FY: 2006 
DEPART-POST: 
SESSION-DATE: 
RETURN-POST: 
NO-OF-PART: 2 
RANK-ORDER: 10 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1047 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: IND 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 14544 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Foreign Policy 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Lucas 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Menget 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 0 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: Radio France Internationale 
M-ADDR2: 116, avenue du President Kennedy 
M-ADDR3: 
M-CITY: Paris 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: France 
M-ZONE: 75016 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: + (33) 1.56.40.52.23 
M-FAX: + (33) 1.56.40.44.61 
M-EMAIL: lucas.menget@rfi.fr 
M-CNTRY-ID: FR 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 12/24/1974 
MAR-STAT: M 
BIRTH-CITY: Chambray-les-Tours 
BIRTH-CNTRY: France 
CITIZ-CNTRY: France 
RES-CNTRY: France 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Foreign Reporter, Radio France Internationale - RFI, since 
1999 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Secretary General of the association "Lire dans le noir" (read 
 
SIPDIS 
in the dark) 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1997-1998 - Night reporter at France-Info Radio and France 2 
Television 
1996 - Reporter for France-Inter Radio 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
New York City - September 11, 2001 - a couple of weeks 
reporting 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
- Kosovo - 1999 reporting 
- Albania - 2001 reporting 
- Kuwait - 2003 reporting 
- Jordan, Iraq, Israel - 2003-2004 reporting 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1998 - Graduated from Paris School of Journalism 
1995 - University degree in History 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
The editorial line of widely listened to Radio France 
Internationale is sometimes critical of the United States on a 
range of foreign policy issues.  Criticism includes US 
policies in the broader Middle East.  Lucas Menget, who has 
spent time in Iraq, as well as other countries in the region, 
reports often on Middle Eastern issues, and it would be useful 
to have him meet US experts and officials who could explain 
U.S. initiatives and interests in the area.  It would also be 
useful for him to learn about Muslim Americans and their 
integration into American life.  Beyond the Middle East, 
Menget also reports on other foreign policy issues that often 
touch upon the United States.  He should better know the 
"players" who influence to some degree U.S. policy 
considerations.  He is interested, for example, in demographic 
issues such as our expanding Hispanic population and how they 
broadly affect US policy considerations.  He is also 
interested in American volunteerism and civic and humanitarian- 
minded efforts.  He would like to better understand small town 
America's interests and concerns, given that population's 
broad support for President Bush in the 2004 election. 
An individual IV program that focused on his areas of interest 
and allowed him access to federal, state and local officials, 
members of congressional committees, academics and analysts, 
as well as community leaders would enhance his understanding 
of the many considerations and influences that go into the 
formulation of US foreign policy.   His enhanced understanding 
would, we believe, eventually be reflected in more nuanced and 
informed reporting on issues pertaining to the United States 
for RFI's huge international and domestic audience. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Michele Carteron 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Lucas Menget is a young foreign affairs journalist with a 
promising future as a foreign editor and/or the U.S.-based 
correspondent for Radio France Internationale, France's 
equivalent to the VOA or BBC.  RFI is seen as a reliable 
source of information worldwide, broadcasting in many 
languages other than French.  Listernship is estimated to be 
some 30 million people, with an important audience in Africa 
and the Middle East.  Menget's reports, often but not 
exclusively on Middle Eastern topics, are aired in the key 
news programs on a regular basis. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: PA - U.S. Embassy Paris, France 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: No 
E-I-TYPE: NONE 
NOMINEE-ID: 568 
PERSON-ID: 467 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR 
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: N 
NOM-POST-ID: 14544 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Erwan 
M-NAME: 
L-NAME: Gueho 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 0 
PRINCIPAL?: No 
M-ADDR1: Nord-Eclair 
M-ADDR2: 42, rue du General Darrail 
M-ADDR3: 
M-CITY: Roubaix 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: France 
M-ZONE: 59100 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: + (33) 3.20.25.62.77 
M-FAX: + (33) 3.20.25.62.83 
M-EMAIL: erwan.gueho@nord-eclair.com 
M-CNTRY-ID: FR 
M-ADDRTYPE: B 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 01/20/1973 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Lorient 
BIRTH-CNTRY: France 
CITIZ-CNTRY: France 
RES-CNTRY: France 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Head of News, regional daily "Nord-Eclair", since 2001 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1998-2001 - Journalist at Nord-Eclair 
1997 - Intern at the French Navy's journal "Cols Bleus" 
1996 - temporary at France 3 Auvergne (regional television) 
July 1996 - temporary at "Les Echos" (written press) 
August 1995 - temporary at "Ouest France" (written press) 
1995 - temporary at France 2 (national television) 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
None 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
- Poland (Warsaw, Cracow) - May and October 2004, professional 
trip 
- Germany (Berlin) - October 2004, professional trip 
- Spain - Summer 2004, personal trip 
- Norway - Winter 2002, professional trip 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1994-1996 - Post Graduate in Journalism at CELSA (Studies of 
Information Sciences and Communication, Paris University of La 
Sorbonne) 
1991-1994 - Graduate from the Institute of Political Studies 
of Rennes 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
Vice-President of the "Nord-Eclair" association of journalists 
Co-founder of the European association of journalists 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
Numerous newspaper articles 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 2 
ENGL-SPEAK: 2 
ENGL-COMP: 2 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: German 
OTHER-LANG-ID: GM 
READ: 3 
SPEAK: 2 
COMP: 3 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
An International Visitor Program (IVP) for Erwan Gueho would 
address the MPP Strategic Goal of Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs, Strategy 1 ("A Mission-wide, integrated, 
comprehensive network of outreach to audiences - directly, 
through the media, and via the Internet - supported and 
enhanced by relationships created through personal contact, 
exchanges, and other cooperative programs.") Through the IVP, 
¶M. Gueho would learn directly from responsible officials about 
the U.S. government's perceptions of various aspects of its 
foreign policy, allowing him to broaden his understanding of 
policies and actions that are frequently misunderstood in 
France. This would provide the basis for more perceptive 
analyses in his writing. His experiences in the United States 
could also provide material for "human interest" stories about 
Americans which would help put a "human face" on America. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
Erwan Gueho would be an ideal participant in a group program 
for journalists in French focused on foreign policy issues of 
concern to Europe and the U.S., including counter terrorism 
and security issues, the future of trans-Atlantic relations, 
the changing roles of international organizations such as NATO 
and the United Nations, and global trade. Post also recommends 
the inclusion of visits to major U.S. museums and 
participation in cultural and sports activities to provide the 
broadest possible experience of life in the United States and 
to counter persistent perceptions of the U.S. as a "cultural 
wasteland". 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Richard Huckaby 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Erwan Gueho is a serious and dedicated young reporter for the 
regional daily Nord Eclair. One of his continuing 
responsibilities is the "World" section of the paper. During 
the run-up to the 2004 U.S. presidential election, he created 
an accurate and widely read series of articles on the 
electoral process, as well as details concerning the positions 
of the major candidates. The fact that he contacted the APP 
and the IRC in Paris for information indicates the seriousness 
and dedication with which he approaches his work, as does the 
fact that he is almost always present at seminars and 
conferences involving international topics. Since he writes 
for Nord Eclair, the second largest regional daily in the 
North, his work reaches a large audience over a wide 
geographical region. In a recent conversation, the Editor-in- 
Chief of the paper indicated his confidence that M. Gueho 
would be a leader in the field. For this reason, it is 
important that the U.S. government build on the positive 
relationship already established with this rising young 
reporter by providing him the opportunity to gain firsthand 
knowledge of the United States, which he has never visited, 
and to discuss foreign policy issues with officials in 
Washington. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: APP Lille, France 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: No 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 569 
PERSON-ID: 468 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR 
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 14544 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
  WOLFF