MADAGASCAR: UK STRONGLY SUPPORTS USG POSITION
Telegraph.co.uk
1.(C) The position the UK strongly supports in the EU is in line with the USG's policy of ensuring the Rajoelina regime in Madagascar is not legitimized, according to Foreign Office Southern Africa Team leader Sarah Riley. Riley explained to poloff April 14 that the beginning of the EU's political dialogue has been pushed back to April 21 or 22 because the UK had serious questions about the terms of reference that France had proposed. Riley said the UK is uncomfortable with how quickly the French are moving to legitimize the Rajoelina regime and supports Cotonou Agreement Article 96 consultations rather than enhanced Article 8 consultations, which would "essentially mean business as usual," as opposed to the Article 96 consultations that could result in the suspension of all EU assistance programs. According to Riley, the UK sees France's push for the enhanced Article 8 consultations as a delaying tactic and an excuse to avoid Article 96 consultations. Riley said the UK is "pushing back hard" and is doing a lot of "heavy lifting in the EU" to change the terms of reference for the political dialogue.
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1.(C) The position the UK strongly supports in the EU is in line with the USG's policy of ensuring the Rajoelina regime in Madagascar is not legitimized, according to Foreign Office Southern Africa Team leader Sarah Riley. Riley explained to poloff April 14 that the beginning of the EU's political dialogue has been pushed back to April 21 or 22 because the UK had serious questions about the terms of reference that France had proposed. Riley said the UK is uncomfortable with how quickly the French are moving to legitimize the Rajoelina regime and supports Cotonou Agreement Article 96 consultations rather than enhanced Article 8 consultations, which would "essentially mean business as usual," as opposed to the Article 96 consultations that could result in the suspension of all EU assistance programs. According to Riley, the UK sees France's push for the enhanced Article 8 consultations as a delaying tactic and an excuse to avoid Article 96 consultations. Riley said the UK is "pushing back hard" and is doing a lot of "heavy lifting in the EU" to change the terms of reference for the political dialogue.
Read more...