IRELAND SUPPORTS SUA AMENDMENTS AS DRAFTED

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