IRELAND LUKEWARM ON SWISS UNSC PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001365

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL KSEP EI UNGA
SUBJECT: IRELAND LUKEWARM ON SWISS UNSC PROPOSAL

REF: STATE 199305

Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D).

(C) On November 3, Post delivered reftel demarche to Brian
Cahalane, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Director
for UN Affairs. Cahalane noted that the Irish response to
the Swiss proposal for UNSC reform was "lukewarm at best."
He related the GOI's view that the Swiss had been mistaken to
float the proposal in the General Assembly without first
consulting the P-5. He also observed that while portions of
the proposal were worth consideration, other portions could
be interpreted as rewriting the UN Charter, particularly
those provisions governing UNSC rules of procedure. Cahalane
said that Ireland's Perm Rep was scheduled the week of
November 7 to meet with his Swiss counterpart over lunch,
which would be an opportunity to air Irish views on the
proposal. He added that the Human Security Network, a
ministerial group to which Ireland and Switzerland belong,
would be another channel for discussion.
KENNY