IRELAND: NO PLANS TO MEET SYRIANS AT UN

S E C R E T DUBLIN 001084 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER UNGA SUBJECT: IRELAND: NO PLANS TO MEET SYRIANS AT UN REF: SECSTATE 159137 Classified By: POL/ECON Chief Mary Daly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Paul Gunning, First Secretary for Middle East issues, said that as of September 2, FM Ahern had received no request from the Syrians for a bilateral meeting at the UNGA. FM Ahern plans to keep bilateral meetings to a minimum in order to be available to the Secretary General in his capacity of one of the the SYG's special envoys for UN reform. Gunning said Ireland shares U.S. concern about Syrian behaviour. However, it has no representation in Damascus, and thus usually relies on the EU for communication with Syria. KENNY