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