IRELAND WILL DISCUSS PROTECTION FORCE WITH EU

S E C R E T DUBLIN 001222 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/RSAT AND PM/PMAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2014 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM MOPS MARR UN SUBJECT: IRELAND WILL DISCUSS PROTECTION FORCE WITH EU PARTNERS AND CONTINUES TO CONDEMN HOSTAGE TAKING REF: A) STATE 166158 B) STATE 166182 Classified By: PEO Chief Mary Daly per 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S)In regards to the UN protection force, Emboff delivered reftel talking points A on August 5 to Brendan Ward, Deputy Director of the Middle East Section at DFA. Ward responded that he had been in touch with counterparts in other European capitals, and agreement was reached to discuss this issue at the CFSP Working Group (WG) in September. Ward also stated that the GOI has yet to formulate its own bilateral response because the appropriate officials in the Department of Finance and Foreign Affairs are presently unavailable due to the August holiday season. Post will follow-up when the appropriate officials are available and will respond in septel. ¶2. (U)In regards to the condemnation of hostage taking (reftel B),Ward responded that the GOI deplores the recent upsurge in violence in Iraq. He also noted that Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen issued a statement on July 28th condemning the recent bombings in Baquba and, during the Irish EU Presidency, demanded that all kidnappings in Iraq stop. The GOI will continue to condemn any future attacks and kidnappings. KENNY