IRELAND SUPPORTS OCVR IN IRAN AND WILL PUSH FOR

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001244 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL SUBJECT: IRELAND SUPPORTS OCVR IN IRAN AND WILL PUSH FOR QUICK DISBURSMENT OF AFGHAN ELECTION FUNDS REF: A. STATE 179808 ¶B. STATE 180351 ¶1. Emboff, delivering reftel points A and B, spoke on August 23 to Cliona Manahan, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Director of the Asia and Pacific Section. Regarding Out of Country Voting and Registration (OCVR) for the Afghan presidential elections (reftel A),Manahan stated the GOI had similar concerns about Afghan refugees voting in Iran. She said she would share our reftel points with Tony Mannix, the DFA's Middle East director (presently on leave),and then instruct the Irish Embassy in Tehran to monitor the situation and elicit cooperation from the Iranian Government. Manahan agreed to discuss the matter further with Emboff once she gets an update on the situation from the Irish embassy in Tehran. ¶2. Regarding funding for the Afghan presidential election (reftel B),Manahan stated that the GOI did disburse its contribution to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and, as a result of our demarche, will direct the Irish mission to the UN to keep in close contact with the UNDP to make sure the money is disbursed with as little bureaucratic delay as possible. KENNY