IRISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS U.S. ASSURANCES ON

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001547

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI
SUBJECT: IRISH GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS U.S. ASSURANCES ON
TRANSFER OF PRISONERS


1. Summary: On December 14, Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern
was asked a number of questions in the Irish Parliament
in relation to the alleged transfer of prisoners, by the
U.S., through Shannon airport. He repeated the Irish
Government's position that they are satisfied with
assurances given by the U.S. that no such flights have
taken place. On questions relating to the use of white
phosphorus in Iraq, Ahern reiterated that the Irish
Government accepted the assurances given by a friendly
government. End Summary


2. On December 14, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern
was asked a number of questions in the Irish Parliament
in relation to the alleged transfer of prisoners by the
U.S. through Shannon airport. Ahern stated that the
Irish Government is "completely opposed to extraordinary
rendition and has not, and will not, permit any flight
used for this purpose to pass through an Irish airport or
through Irish airspace." He told Parliament that the
U.S. Administration had given the Irish Government
"repeated, clear and explicit assurances" that no
prisoners have been transferred through Irish airports,
and nor would they be without the permission of the Irish
Government. Ireland has a long-standing practice of
accepting the assurances of a friendly Government and
Ahern said he has no reason to believe that Irish
airports have been used for such purposes.


3. The Irish Government has raised the issue of
extraordinary rendition with the U.S. through every
available forum, including the EU, the U.S. embassy in
Dublin, Irish embassy in Washington and the Minister's
December 1, discussion with Secretary Rice, and are
satisfied with the assurances given, Ahern said.
Responding to suggestions that the assurances might be
qualified in some way by the definition of torture, as
applied by the U.S. government, Ahern said "The
assurances we have received have contained no reference
to the purposes for which any prisoners might be
transferred which could be used to limit the broad scope
of those assurances. In the wider European context, they
are of particular clarity and completeness." He added
that if it ever emerged that, contrary to the Governments
belief, Irish airports or airspace have been used for the
purpose of extraordinary rendition, the Government would
take the "gravest possible view of the matter."


WHITE PHOSPHORUS
--------------


4. Ahern was also asked, by Labour's Foreign Affairs
Spokesperson, Michael D. Higgins, about the use of white
phosphorus in Iraq. Ahern responded by saying that while
the Irish Government is completely opposed to the use of
chemical weapons, white phosphorus is classified as a
conventional weapon, not a chemical weapon. He said that
the U.S. embassy informed the Department of Foreign
Affairs that white phosphorus has been used in Iraq, but
only as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants and
extreme lengths have been taken to ensure it was not used
in the proximity of civilians. Ahern said "The Irish
Government accepts these assurances."

BENTON