PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND NEARING EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001416

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: ETRD IZ KPAL PREL SY UP YI EI EUN
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND NEARING EU
BATTLEGROUPS DECISION

REF: A. STATE 208899


B. DUBLIN 1360

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


1. (C) Summary: On November 17, Post delivered ref A
demarche to Jim Kelly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU
Correspondent, who underscored that Irish talking points had
not changed substantively from Post's November 3 demarche
(ref B). Kelly noted that defense-related discussions would
focus on the GAERC's approval for a code of conduct on
defense procurement. While the GAERC would not address the
EU battlegroups proposal, Kelly observed that Ireland was
preparing to decide by Christmas whether to participate in
the initiative. He cited the EU's readiness to support the
implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on
Movement and Access. He added that he was unaware, however,
of any Irish movement on the possibility of contributing
personnel for Palestinian police training. Regarding Bosnia,
he expected that the GAERC would address the manner in which
the role of High Representative might evolve after the expiry
of Ashdown's term in February. Kelly also noted that the
GAERC would not discuss Iraq, the Ukraine, or Syria in
detail. End summary.

Defense Issues
--------------


2. (C) The November 21-22 GAERC's defense-related
discussions will focus on technical/pragmatic cooperation,
principally the Ministers' approval for a code of conduct on
defense procurement, said Kelly. He observed that Irish
Defense Minister Willie O'Dea would attend and that the
discussions would also feature a report from High
Representative Solana on the EDA. Kelly pointed out that the
GAERC would not address the EU battlegroups proposal, but he
noted that the Irish Attorney General's office had recently
forwarded opinions to the Minister O'Dea on the legislative
changes necessary to enable Ireland to participate in the
initiative. (Ireland espouses a "triple-lock" approach to
overseas military deployments, whereby military action
requires a UN mandate and authorization from both the Irish
Parliament and GOI Administration.) Minister O'Dea is
expected to discuss these legislative changes with the GOI
Cabinet in early December, making possible a decision by
Christmas on participation in the battlegroups.

Iraq
--------------


3. (C) Discussion on Iraq will not be detailed, remarked
Kelly. The GAERC conclusions, he added, would likely
reaffirm the EU's support for reconstruction. Ministers will
also offer preliminary opinions on the nature of EU
engagement with the Iraqi Government to be established after
the December elections.

MEPP
--------------


4. (C) Kelly praised Secretary Rice's leadership in
brokering the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on Movement and
Access, and he stated that the EU was ready to fulfill its
role in implementing the agreement, including through
financial contributions. Kelly pointed out that EU support
for Gaza reconstruction would be a central discussion item at
the GAERC meeting. He also said that he was unaware of any
Irish movement on the possibility of contributing personnel
for Palestinian police training. (Post has heard from Irish
Department of Justice sources that Ireland has been
considering this option.)

Ukraine
--------------


5. (C) The Ukraine is not scheduled as a GAERC agenda item,
said Kelly. He expected that Ministers would speak with
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on the margins regarding
preparatory points for the December 1 Ukraine-EU Summit.
Kelly added that Ireland strongly supported U.S.-EU
coordination with Ukraine on approaches to Belarus.

Bosnia
--------------


6. (C) Bosnia will be the marquis discussion item at the
GAERC meeting, with Washington's 10th anniversary
commemoration of the Dayton agreement likewise occurring on
November 21-22, commented Kelly. Ministers will focus on
approval for the Commission's decision to open Stabilization
and Association Agreement negotiations with Bosnia and
Hercegovina. The GAERC will also address the manner in which
the role of High Representative might evolve after the expiry
of Ashdown's term in February. Kelly did not expect that the
GAERC would deliberate on a possible successor for High
Representative Ashdown, and he noted that Ireland did not
have a favored candidate. He added that the December GAERC
would take up the succession question in more detail.

SYRIA
--------------


7. (C) Kelly stated that Syria would not be discussed in
detail at the GAERC, though he underscored Irish support for
full implementation of Syria-related UNSC resolutions. He
mentioned that Ireland's Deputy Police Commissioner, Peter
Fitzgerald, who led the initial UN fact-finding team on the
Hariri assassination, was no longer involved in UN
investigation efforts.

WTO
---


8. (C) As with ref B demarche, Kelly deferred to the
Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of
Enterprise, Trade, and Employment for the official Irish
position on the Doha negotiations. (As noted in earlier
reporting, Ireland is among those Member States that are
unwilling to consider further EU agricultural concessions
ahead of the Hong Kong Ministerial.) Kelly ventured only
that EU expectations for Hong Kong appeared to have been
scaled back following WTO ministerial discussions in Geneva
the week of November 7.
KENNY