[Australia]: Message to France [SEC=SECRET]

[Owen]

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MINSITER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (Encrypted)​

14 March 2001​

Dear President Chirac, I am writing to inform you that New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia will continue to be members of the South Pacific Forum as per the signing of the agreements by your former administration. France will also maintain its status as an observer state. Speaking of the Pacific possessions of France, we are concerned about reports of a state of emergency being declared for Metropolitan France. Is the situation in the three possessions stable? We would like it if your government continues to update this government on any evolving situation within New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia. The Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police maintain the ability to quickly respond to any evolving security situations in the Pacific if the situation warranted it. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

 

[Owen]

Oceania

 

[Oceania]

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TOP SECRET​

TO: Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Australia [ Owen ]

FROM: Hervé de Charette, Minister of Foreign Affairs

To Minister Rudd, We are happy to continue our status as an observer in the South Pacific Forum. We remain committed to a better and fairer future for our possessions in the Pacific. The state of emergency is indeed only in the metropolitan region of France. We are monitoring the situation in our overseas possessions, and we see no direct threat to our possessions due to the state of emergency. However, due to the energy strike, we are unable to provide energy to Wallis and Futuna from May, and to New Caledonia from June. Due to the Kanak independence movement in New Caledonia, we are concerned that the blackouts in New Caledonia will lead to a revival of the Kanak movement. We ask that Australia continue to monitor the situation on the islands. Sincerely, Hervé de Charette Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Owen]

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MINSITER FOR RESOURCES AND ENERGY​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (Encrypted)​

14 March 2001​

Dear President Chirac, My name is Craig Emerson I'm the Australian Minister for Resources and Energy. Based on information provided to me by our Minister for Foreign Affairs, I understand that New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna are facing an energy crisis. Is this simply the result of strikes in those two territories and how can we assist? Yours sincerely, Craig Emerson.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

 

[Oceania]

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TOP SECRET
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TO: Craig Emerson, Minister for Resources and Energy [ Owen]

FROM: Hervé de Charette, Minister of Foreign Affairs

To Minister Emerson The strikes on our territories and in the metropolitan region have affected our capacity to supply and provide energy. President Chirac wishes priority to be given to metropolitan France, and we have limited abilities for self-sufficiency on our territories. We would very much appreciate Australian help in providing for our Pacific territories. Energy is provided largely through fossil fuels. New energy could come through a pipeline, or funding for new projects. Sincerely, Hervé de Charette Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Owen]

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MINSITER FOR DEFENCE​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (Encrypted)​

14 March 2001​

Dear President Chirac, Can I please have an update on the situation within your three Pacific possessions? Yours sincerely, John Faulkner.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Oceania

 

[Oceania]

The email would be forwarded by the Presidential Office to Minister Alain Richard, the Minister of Defence.

French Ministry of Defence
TOP SECRET

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TO: John Faulkner, Minister of Defence [ Owen ]

FROM: Alain Richard, Minister of Defence

To Minister Faulkner, We are getting reports of the Kanak and Socialist Liberation Front, a pro-New Caledonia independence movement, being revived due to the energy crisis. We only have some 100 soldiers on the island, and therefore our capabilities to respond to any independence movement is limited. On all three territories, blackouts have been planned for April, and we are planning a strict system to enforce this. As such, we would appreciate Australian assistance in protecting and ensuring the safety of the islands. Due to Air France cutting off flights to the Pacific territories, we also have little capabilities to transport troops to the island. Sincerely, Alain Richard Minister of Defence