PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRISH SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001501

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL ECON EI YI BK IZ AF EUN
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRISH SUPPORT FOR
RAFAH/PALESTINIANS

REF: A. STATE 217518


B. STATE 209642

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


1. (C) Summary: On December 5, Post delivered ref A talking
points to Siobhan Coyne, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Deputy European Correspondent. Coyne noted that Ireland
would strongly support an increased EU presence in KOSOVO as
part of the final status outcome, and she concurred with USG
points about encouraging constitutional reform in Bosnia and
maintaining U.S.-EU cooperation on the Montenegrin
referendum. Regarding the Middle East, she highlighted
Ireland's November 21 pledge of euro 200,000 for the EU
Border Assistance Mission in Rafah and also the GOI's
decision to contribute personnel to the new EU police
training mission in the Palestinian Territories. She said
that the EU would almost certainly make a financial pledge at
the upcoming London Conference on Afghanistan and would
review its assistance to Iraq once the post-election
situation was clear. She also pointed out that the December
12 GAERC would likely call on Eritrea to end restrictions on
the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).
End Summary.

The Balkans
--------------


2. (C) Ireland would strongly support an increased EU
presence in KOSOVO as part of the final status outcome, a
possibility that ministers will discuss at the December 12
GAERC. Coyne also noted that High Representative Solana
hoped to have a report on KOSOVO and the prospects for
expanded EU engagement ready for the December 12 GAERC or
immediately thereafter. She added that Ireland
enthusiastically welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Frank
Wisner as U.S. Special Envoy for KOSOVO, who will join the
negotiating team headed by UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari. Coyne
also mentioned that the Irish Government concurred with USG
points about encouraging constitutional reform in Bosnia and
maintaining U.S.-EU cooperation on the Montenegrin referendum.

The Middle East
--------------


3. (C) Emboffs conveyed ref B points regarding the
Palestinian-Israeli agreement on Gaza border crossings and
access, and Coyne cited a November 21 DFA statement
announcing the GOI's euro 200,000 pledge for the EU Border
Assistance Mission in Rafah, launched at the GAERC meeting
the same day. The DFA statement also noted that Ireland
would contribute personnel to the new EU police training
mission in the Palestinian Territories, which would begin
work on January 1. Coyne pointed out that GOI assistance to
the Palestinians would total over euro four million in 2005.
She also mentioned that the Middle East was not on the
December 12 GAERC agenda, but that the December 15-16
European Council meeting, to be attended by Prime Minister
Bertie Ahern and Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, would discuss
the issue in depth.

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


4. (C) Coyne said that Ireland agreed with ref A points
regarding Iraq, particularly the importance both of broad
participation in the December 15 legislative election and
also the impartiality of outside actors. She remarked that
the EU recognized the need for continuing economic,
political, and security assistance after the election, and
she believed that the EU would review its assistance to Iraq
once the post-election situation was clear.

Afghanistan
--------------


5. (C) The EU would almost certainly announce new financial
pledges for Afghanistan at the January 31 - February 1 London
Conference, said Coyne. She noted that Ireland would be
represented at the Conference at the ministerial level. She
did not believe, however, that Afghanistan would receive
substantive discussion at the December 12 GAERC meeting.

Africa
--------------


6. (C) Coyne commented that difficulties encountered by the
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) would
be on the December 12 GAERC agenda. She anticipated that the
GAERC conclusions would call on the Eritrean Government to
improve support for UNMEE and, more specifically, to end
restrictions on UNMEE helicopter missions. The GAERC also
planned to discuss a policy paper on the EU's Africa strategy
for the next decade.
KENNY