IRISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHAN COUNTERNARCOTICS

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001755 SIPDIS SA/A, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SNAR EUN SXG SUBJECT: IRISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFGHAN COUNTERNARCOTICS PLAN TO REMAIN THE SAME REF: STATE 248010 On December 1, Emboff delivered reftel points to UN Desk Officer for International Terrorism and Drugs at the DFA, Eoin Duggan. Duggan said that Ireland and its EU partners fully support the uncompromising stance of the Afghan authorities on cultivation and trafficking in illicit drugs and the counternarcotics implementation plan (reftel). Duggan stated that the GOI is very concerned about the cultivation of opium products in Afghanistan, especially because almost all heroin consumed in Ireland comes from Afghanistan. Duggan stated that Irish concern for Afghanistan is also evident in the high number of Irish officers deployed to ISAF (seven). Over the past three years, the GOI contributed euro 500,000 per annum to the UN Office of Drugs and Crimes (ODC). Of that amount, euro 300,000 went to counternarcotics projects in South Asia. Duggan anticipates that GOI contributions will remain the same and will continue to be channeled through multilateral efforts. KENNY