UNCLAS DUBLIN 000011

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO IMIE DEMARCHE: NO OBSERVERS
PLANNED

REF: STATE 274965


1. On January 6, Post delivered reftel talking points to
Stephen Dawson, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) First
Secretary for Middle Eastern Affairs. Dawson said that the

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GOI did not plan to contribute observers or provide other
forms of bilateral support to the International Mission for
Iraq Elections (IMIE). He noted that the GOI currently did
not have personnel on the ground in Iraq and therefore could
not assess whether the conditions were right to send
observers. He added, however, that Ireland had strongly
supported EU funding and other forms of assistance for the
elections and had also contributed euro 500,000 to the UN
protection force in Iraq.
BENTON