French President Nicholas Sarkozy has rehabilitated one of the leading experts on the Middle East at the French Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Jean-Claude Cousseran, by appointing him responsible for contacts with Syria and Israel, in order to activate this track one day. The appointment of the ambassador, who is known for his wide expertise in the Middle East region, represents a smart step by a French presidency that aspires to participate in the peace process on the Syrian-Israeli front and the Lebanese-Israeli front. Cousseran was the head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Foreign Ministry, and was ambassador to Damascus during the rule of the late Hafez Assad, followed by stints in Ankara and Cairo. This was after he was a counselor at his country's embassies in Tel Aviv, Tehran and Baghdad. He managed France's foreign intelligence service and paid the price of the domestic dispute in the government of cohabitation between then-President Jacques Chirac and his Socialist prime minister, Lionel Jospin, when Chirac transferred him from the intelligence directorate to the ambassador's post in Cairo. Cousseran then headed the International Diplomatic Academy in France, which was founded by Karim Aga Khan, who has good ties with the Syrian regime. Sarkozy disclosed, in one of his speeches, that the Aga Khan was someone who helped urge him to open a new page with France. Cousseran is now continuing with his duties at the Academy, along with the job he was officially tasked with by Sarkozy, which will be officially announced during the conference of French ambassadors. Cousseran has extensive knowledge of the region and studied in Lebanon, where his mother taught at a French school. He enjoys the respect and trust of the Syrians, as well as the Israelis, and especially the White House. As for Turkey, the appointment to undertake contacts between Syria and Israel certainly might be useful to feel out the situation and gauge what can be undertaken at a time when Turkish-Israeli relations have cooled, and the Israelis doe not trust the Turkish mediator. However, the Syrians still insist on Turkey as the mediator and Sarkozy already offered his mediation to President Bashar Assad, when he visited France. However, he realized that the Syrian president will not back down on having Turkish mediation. Cousseran realizes this as he visits Syria, Israel and Turkey and gathers information about this track. Cousseran also understands the importance of the American role on all tracks. He regularly meets with American officials and enjoys respect among them for his abilities. He met with Frederick Hof, the assistant to the US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell. However, despite his great abilities and extensive contacts, with all sides, the regional situation does not spur optimism about Cousseran's mission. Israel is not determined to see real progress toward peace, whether with the Palestinians, or with Syria and Lebanon. Syria wants Turkish mediation and a primary role later on for the White House, even if it agrees to European participation. Thus, Cousseran's mission might activate interest in contacts and information, which will be derived from all sides. However, it should not be read as a key development on a track that has been blocked, on all tracks currently. The improvement in relations between Paris and Damascus does not mean that France can play the role of the Turkish mediator. However, Sarkozy's nature is to not remain handcuffed; he always seeks to make an attempt, and the selection of Cousseran agrees with such an objective.
