IRELAND SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON RUSSIA AND OECD

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000455 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 TAGS: AMGT EFIN ECON ETRD OECD NATO SUBJECT: IRELAND SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON RUSSIA AND OECD REF: STATE 66309 Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D). (C) On April 15, Post delivered reftel talking points to James McIntyre, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) First Secretary for EU Common Policies and the OECD. McIntyre said SIPDIS that the GOI shared U.S. views on the importance of addressing OECD structural questions before considering Russia's bid for OECD membership. The GOI concurred that discussions with Russia should continue at the informal, technical level, without sending political signals about the prospects for Russia's eventual membership. According to McIntyre, the GOI further agreed that discussions should highlight transparency, rule of law, and other issues demonstrating the suitability of Russia's OECD candidacy. He noted that Ireland supported the bids of new EU Member States for membership, while recognizing the need for a geographic balance within the OECD. He also observed that it was necessary to reach conclusions on the OECD issues highlighted by Ambassador Noboru's report before taking a formal decision on enlargement for Russia or other prospective members. Discussions geared toward those conclusions, McIntyre added, should involve all the OECD's current members. KENNY