IRISH RESPONSE TO PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001783 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014 TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAL EUN SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE REF: A. STATE 258831 ¶B. DUBLIN 1735 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Benton, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) On December 9, Post delivered reftel talking points to Gerard Keown, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU Correspondent. -------------- Ukraine -------------- ¶2. (C) The common line taken by the EU and United States regarding the Ukrainian crisis had been immensely constructive, said Keown. He noted that the EU welcomed the December 8 agreements reached in Kiev on restructuring the Central Election Commission and replacing Prosecutor General Vasiliyev, which had been key OSCE recommendations. (The demarche took place before news reports about apparent backtracking on the agreements by the Ukrainian Government.) He cited the EU's hope that all sides would continue to show restraint and that the outcome of the December 26 rerun elections would reflect the will of the Ukrainian people. (Keown will be one of several Irish DFA officials serving as election monitors on December 26.) -------------- The Middle East -------------- ¶3. (C) The EU fully concurred with USG talking points on the Middle East, said Keown. He noted that the EU had provided a technical assistance package for the January 9 Palestinian elections and would send an observer mission. The EU also had in place a financial assistance package for the Palestinian Authority targeting governance reforms, infrastructure, and security. Keown cited the EU view that the Palestinian elections would require the widest possible participation, and he commended recent Israeli commitments to Secretary Powell to examine possibilities for freedom of SIPDIS movement by Palestinian voters. Keown added that the EU appreciated the positive influence that that USG was exercising on the Israeli Government and hoped that Prime Minister Sharon would view the Palestinians elected as legitimate interlocutors. The Irish Government, added Keown, believed that the emergence of the new Palestinian leadership would present an opportunity for closer U.S.-EU cooperation on the peace process. -------------- Colombia -------------- ¶4. (C) Keown said that the EU agreed with the USG on the importance of strengthening support for the Colombian Government. The EU also welcomed U.S. proposals for increased cooperation through the G-24 mechanism. -------------- The Great Lakes -------------- ¶5. (C) The EU supported the November 20 Dar es Salaam Declaration on the framework for resolving tensions in the Great Lakes region, said Keown. He noted that the December 13 GAERC would adopt a statement urging restraint on all parties in the interests of regional stability. Keown highlighted the EU's concern that Rwanda might take unilateral action damaging the peace framework, as suggested in recent Rwandan Government statements that reserved Rwanda's right to defend itself against cross-border attacks. -------------- The Code of Conduct -------------- ¶6. (C) Keown observed that the Code of Conduct was still a "work in progress" and would not be ready for discussion at the December 13 GAERC. He also pointed out that the EU-China Summit statement had been careful not to draw explicit connections between progress on human rights and steps to lift the arms embargo. The EU, said Keown, viewed its ongoing, structured human rights dialogue with China as the most appropriate avenue to press the Chinese Government on human rights concerns. -------------- Croatia -------------- ¶7. (C) Ireland generally opposed placing conditions, specifically the apprehension of Ante Gotovina, on the start of Croatia' accession negotiations, commented Keown. The Irish Government believed that negotiations offered the best context in which to encourage Croatia to fulfill its commitments to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY),including Gotovina's capture and delivery to The Hague. Keown added that the negotiations would include safeguard measures to prevent possible Croatian backsliding on those commitments. He pointed out the Irish Government's view that Chief Prosecutor del Ponte had sent confusing signals this past year on the extent of Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY. He added that the Irish Government looked forward to a full hearing at the December 17 EU Council meeting for those Member States that supported conditionalities on the commencement of Croatia's accession negotiations. Keown emphasized that Ireland saw no linkage between Turkey and Croatia. (This position on linkage contrasted somewhat with DFA comments in ref B that it would be unusual to place conditions on Croatia while taking an unconditional decision on Turkey's accession negotiations.) ¶8. (C) On December 10, Post spoke with Michael Gaffey, DFA Counsellor for Southeastern Europe. Gaffey said the Irish intended to maintain a position that was consistent with the June Council decision, which, he believed, had "clearly" called for the start of negotiations with Croatia. Ireland was willing to reiterate that position at the December 13 GAERC, but did not see itself as a champion for Croatia, certainly not to the extent that Germany or Austria might be. Gaffey said the impression that Ireland had been vociferous on Croatia's behalf at the December 9 COREPER perhaps derived from the fact that Ireland had repeated its position in a discussion to which not many Member State represenatives had contributed. "We're not going to be the last man in the ditch on this issue," observed Gaffey. He expressed doubt that there would be serious discussion on the Croatia issue at the GAERC, since Member State positions were already well known. He added that Ireland's principal objective since its presidency had been to avoid the scenario now emerging where Member States would have to consider simultaneously the start of accession negotiations for both Turkey and Croatia, given the possibility of temptations for Member States to establish linkage. KENNY