PRE-GYMNICH DEMARCHE: IRELAND SUPPORTS TURKEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001075 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL EUN SUBJECT: PRE-GYMNICH DEMARCHE: IRELAND SUPPORTS TURKEY REF: A. STATE 153187 ¶B. DUBLIN 1023 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D). ¶1. Summary: On August 29, Post delivered ref A talking points on the September 1-2 Gymnich Meeting to Jim Kelly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU correspondent (who replaced Gerard Keown on August 25). Kelly conveyed Ireland's hope that EU accession talks for Turkey would begin as originally scheduled on October 3. He observed that Ireland would not take a position on referring Iran to the UNSC until after the IAEA Board of Governors had discussed Director General ElBaradei's expected September 3 report. He also pointed out that there had yet been no discussion within the EU on the proposal for a Commission contractor to manage the rubble removal process after the planned destruction of settlers' homes in Gaza. Kelly noted that the Balkans, China, and Venezuela would not be Gymnich agenda items. End summary. Turkey -------------- ¶2. (C) Ireland hopes that EU accession talks for Turkey, the main subject of the September 1-2 Gymnich Meeting, can begin as originally scheduled on October 3, said Kelly (reiterating the GOI's long-standing view, per ref B). Ireland regarded the talks as a long-term process in which sensitive issues, such as Turkey's relations with Cyprus, could "be resolved along the way." Kelly noted that the Gymnich discussions would focus on the Turkish Government's July 29 statement that its decision to sign the Protocol to the Ankara Agreement did not imply recognition of Cyprus. Ireland expected a fuller airing of views from Member States that had reacted sharply to the statement, particularly France. The Middle East/Gaza -------------- ¶3. (C) Ireland and Member States were pleased with the manner and speed of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, as conveyed by the August 25 EU statement, observed Kelly. The Gymnich Meeting would feature Quartet Special Envoy Jim Wolfensohn's September 2 lunch briefing as the centerpiece of a stock-taking discussion on the withdrawal. Kelly noted that there had yet been no discussion within the EU regarding the proposal for a Commission contractor, IMG, to manage the rubble removal process after the planned destruction of settlers' homes. He anticipated that movement on the proposal, and any measures supporting disengagement, would entail an EU examination of the legal issues and funding requirements involved. Iran -------------- ¶4. (C) Ireland will not take a position on referring Iran to the UNSC until after the IAEA Board of Governors has discussed Director General ElBaradei's expected September 3 report, observed Kelly. Ireland saw the IAEA as the "critical forum" in which to address Iran's posture on the nuclear issue, including its breach of the Paris Agreement. The GOI did not wish to preempt the IAEA's deliberations. The GOI also supported the EU-3's continuing efforts to press Iran to resume suspension of uranium conversion and to negotiate on the basis of the EU-3's Framework Proposal. Kelly said that Gymnich discussions on Iran would be of the stock-taking variety, not a critical appraisal of the EU-3 process. The Balkans -------------- ¶5. (C) Kelly said that the DFA would take on board U.S. talking points regarding the Balkans, and he noted that the Gymnich Meeting would not discuss the region. He noted that Ireland would await further discussions within the EU before taking a position on the timing of the future status process for Kosovo. Ireland also recognized the importance of Croatia's full cooperation with ICTY and hoped that the process for Croatia's accession could move forward in that context. Iraq -------------- ¶6. (C) Ireland stood behind the EU's August 29 statement welcoming the publication of Iraq's constitution as an important milestone in the political process, remarked Kelly. He added that Member States were looking forward to an update on Iraq's situation from British Foreign Minister Jack Straw at the Gymnich Meeting. China -------------- ¶7. (C) Kelly remarked that Ireland was familiar with U.S. views opposing the lifting of the EU arms embargo against China. (Note: As previously reported, Ireland has declined to oppose the embargo's removal, a position that, we believe, reflects the GOI's efforts to strengthen relations with China, primarily trade/investment ties.) Kelly pointed out that China was not an agenda item for the Gymnich Meeting, as the EU-China Summit was scheduled on September 5. Although the embargo was not an agenda item for the Summit, Member States expected that the Chinese side would attempt to raise the subject during exchanges on economic ties and the environment, the Summit's main topics. Venezuela -------------- ¶8. (C) Kelly said that the Latin America Group (within the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Working Group) would meet in September to discuss possible EU support of observer efforts for Venezuela's December legislative elections. He pointed out that Ireland's regional embassies were located in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina and that the GOI's information on the situation in Venezuela was thus limited. He added that, as with China and the Balkans, Venezuela would not be discussed at the Gymnich Meeting. KENNY