IRELAND: STILL UNDECIDED ON FUNDING AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000482 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID UNSC SUBJECT: IRELAND: STILL UNDECIDED ON FUNDING AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS REF: STATE 61560 On April 18, Emboff delivered reftel points to Development Cooperation Directorate, Emergency and Recovery Section, Assistant Principal Aine Hearns. Hearns said that Ireland is actively considering making a national contribution to the September 18 parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, but has yet to decide on the amount of funding to pledge. She said that the decision on this year's pledge amount will take place over the next few weeks. Hearns added that last year, the GOI's aid mechanism, Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI),funded euro 800,000 for civic education and monitoring through the UN Development Program. KENNY