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PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHFR #2269 1511340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311340Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7760
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS PARIS 002269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN ECON IBRD FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE SUPPORTIVE OF ZOELLICK NOMINATION 
 
REF: STATE 73691 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Charge raised reftel points on nomination of Robert 
Zoellick as World Bank president with GOF Treasury Director Xavier 
Musca on May 30.  Musca said that France was likely to support the 
nomination, and referred to remarks made by Foreign Minister Bernard 
Kouchner earlier in the day on the margins of the G8 foreign 
ministers meeting in Potsdam.  Reuters quoted Kouchner as saying 
"certainly" in response to a question on whether Zoellick was the 
right man for the job. 
 
¶2. (SBU) MFA DAS-equivalent for International Financial Affairs 
Cyrille Pierre told us separately that the press had slightly 
misinterpreted Kouchner.  The Foreign Minister (as subsequently 
clarified by an MFA spokesperson) had said that "if Zoellick is 
nominated, I wish him the best of luck."  Pierre said that pending 
the formal announcement the MFA was sensitive about not getting out 
in front of internal USG deliberations.   Pierre said that France 
had a favorable view of Zoellick and said it would be important that 
the nominating and approval process moved forward in a completely 
transparent fashion to ensure buy-in from all stakeholders. 
 
STAPLETON