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