UNCLAS DUBLIN 001204

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PGOV KTIA EWWT PHSA
SUBJECT: IRELAND SUPPORTS SUA AMENDMENTS AS DRAFTED

REF: A. STATE 178871


B. STATE 163044

In early September, Post had conveyed to the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) ref A's points regarding USG
appreciation for Irish support of the amendment process for
the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against
the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA). On September 28,
Therese Healy, DFA First Secretary for Disarmament and
Nonproliferation, reconfirmed that the GOI fully supported
the SUA amendments as drafted and preferred not to open the
amendments to revision at the October 10-14 International
Maritime Organization (IMO) Diplomatic Conference. Healy
noted that the GOI position reflected the shared EU view,
which had been worked out at the September 23 meeting of the
EU Law of the Sea Working Group (COMAR). She added that the
amendments as drafted had been "hard-won" and posed valuable
benefits for maritime nonproliferation efforts. She also
said that Ireland would support EU efforts to secure the
amendments' adoption at the Diplomatic Conference.
KENNY