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