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