IRELAND/EU: UNSYG ANNAN RENEWS CALL FOR UN-EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001579

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: EU MARR MCAP MOPS PGOV PINS PREL UN
SUBJECT: IRELAND/EU: UNSYG ANNAN RENEWS CALL FOR UN-EU
CRISIS COOPERATION

Classified By: DCM Jonathan Benton, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In an October 14 speech in Dublin, UNSYG
Kofi Annan called for effective multilateralism to address
global challenges and, in particular, increased UN-EU
cooperation on crisis management. He welcomed the EU
battlegroup initiative as a potential model for UN-EU
collaboration on conflict prevention. In introductory
remarks, Irish Foreign Minister Ahern emphasized Ireland's
support for collective approaches to security, while
highlighting Ireland's traditional military neutrality.
Department of Foreign Affairs officials saw UNSYG Annan's
speech as an opportunity to educate the Irish public that
participation in UN-EU crisis management cooperation would
not erode Ireland's neutrality. Foreign Affairs and Defense
officials confirm that GOI participation in EU battlegroups
is under intensive review, in preparation for the EU's
Capabilities Commitments Conference in November. End summary.

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Annan's speech: Effective Multilateralism
and UN-EU Cooperation
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2. (U) In an October 14 speech to the National Forum of
Europe in Dublin, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for
increased UN-EU cooperation to fulfill the goals of the 2003
UN-EU Declaration on Crisis Management. UNSYG Annan
commended Ireland's efforts during its EU Presidency to make
such cooperation more structured, substantive, and
broad-based. He welcomed, in particular, the development of
EU "capabilities" in the context of the European Security and
Defense Policy (a reference to the EU battlegroups
initiative, whereby Member States would establish 10
divisions of 1,500 troops within three years for rapid
deployment to conflict zones). Citing the French-led Artemis
Operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003 as a
model for UN-EU cooperation, UNSYG Annan noted that the EU
could address crisis situations with speedier deployments and
more specialized skills than typical UN peace-keepers. He
cautioned that these strengthened EU capabilities should not
lead Member States to diminish their troop contributions to
UN blue-helmet missions, and he lauded Ireland's decades-long
participation in UN peace-keeping operations. Continuing the
theme of effective multilateralism, UNSYG Annan urged
collective action to address other international challenges,
such as HIV/AIDS, economic development, and the Darfur crisis.

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Irish Comments: Differing Views on
Neutrality
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3. (U) In remarks introducing UNSYG Annan, Foreign Minister
Dermot Ahern emphasized that the UN was the "ultimate
guarantor" of Ireland's freedom and safety. He cited
Ireland's view that unilateral action by any country or
regional group could not resolve challenges facing the
international community. Ireland thus supported collective
approaches to security and had made UN-EU cooperation in
crisis management a central focus of its EU presidency. FM
Ahern emphasized that joint UN-EU efforts on conflict
prevention spanned beyond military capabilities to include
diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian instruments. He
pointed out that the GOI would not allow Ireland's stance of
military neutrality to be eroded. Rather, the "triple-lock"
policy would remain: Ireland would only undertake overseas
military action with UN, Cabinet, and Dail (Parliament)
authorization. Like UNSYG Annan, Ahern also called for
effective multilateralism on issues like economic
development, and he promised that Ireland would meet its
Millennium goal of allocating 0.7 percent of GNP to
development aid.


4. (U) Immediate reaction from the audience of several
hundred included comments from opposition party Fine Gael
leader Enda Kenny that Ireland was not neutral, but merely
unaligned. Kenny commended UNSYG Annan for re-energizing the
UN, and he urged Annan to build a collective will among UNSC
members. A Fine Gael colleague, Gay Mitchell, called for an
end to Ireland's triple-lock policy, which he described as
"nonsense." Mitchell recommended that Ireland should instead
decide to take part in overseas military missions on a
case-by-case basis. A member of the Sinn Fein party observed
that the UN should have its own force, adding that
"outsourcing" to the EU or the United States would not solve
the world's problems and could make the UN redundant.

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DFA Reaction: An Opportunity for Public Education;
Government Decision on Battlegroups Not Yet Ready
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5. (C) In a separate conversation with emboff, the GOI
welcomed UNSYG Annan's speech as an opportunity to educate
the Irish public on the legitimacy of Irish participation in
UN-EU crisis management cooperation. According to Julian
Clare, Department of Foreign Affairs First Secretary for UN
Affairs, Irish citizens are confused as to whether Ireland
might be drifting away from its traditional military
neutrality, having recently participated in NATO-led
operations in Bosnia (SFOR) and KOSOVO (KFOR). Proposals for
Ireland to join up with EU battlegroups contributed to the
sense of drift. UNSYG Annan's address, said Clare, made
clear that joint UN-EU crisis management was consistent with
the collective approach to international security that had
long characterized Ireland's military/foreign policy -- a
point that Foreign Minister Ahern had stressed in his
introductory remarks about the maintenance of Ireland's
neutrality. Clare recalled that the synergies involved in
UN-EU crisis cooperation had featured prominently in a
January 2004 discussion between UNSYG Annan and then Foreign
Minister Cowen. He added that the discussion had kicked off
a concerted Irish effort during its EU presidency to shore up
modalities for implementing the 2003 UN-EU Declaration on
Crisis Management.


6. (C) The issue of Irish participation in battlegroups is
still under consideration, with new ministers for defense and
foreign affairs appointed only in late September. DFA
officials have said privately that they favor Irish
participation, both on the merits and because they believe
overall Irish weight in the EU would be helped by their
ability to contribute to the EU's defense ambitions.
Meanwhile, Irish Defense Forces are exploring the modalities
of Irish participation, including whether to contribute niche
forces that could latch onto any battlegroup or to commit
troops to one specific battlegroup. Officials note that the
GOI does not view the EU's November 22 Capabilities
Commitments Conference as a deadline for making specific
commitments to the battlegroups, but recognize that they need
to bring some indication of their intentions to the table.
One contact said Ireland does not see UNSYG Annan's choice of
Dublin for a speech on UN-EU crisis management cooperation as
an attempt to pressure the GOI to contribute personnel to the
battlegroups. Rather, the Dublin venue helps to emphasize
the collectivist model for UN-EU cooperation, as embodied in
long-standing Irish participation in UN-sanctioned
peace-keeping operations.
KENNY