Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DUBLIN542
2005-05-09 07:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, IRA WITH

Tags:  PREL PARM PHUM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000542 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PARM PHUM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, IRA WITH
PRIME MINISTER AHERN

Classified By: Ambassador James C. Kenny; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000542

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PARM PHUM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES CHINA ARMS EMBARGO, IRA WITH
PRIME MINISTER AHERN

Classified By: Ambassador James C. Kenny; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (U) Ambassador and DCM called on Irish Taoiseach (Prime
Minister) Bertie Ahern May 5. They gave the Taoiseach photos
from President Bush of the June 2004 EU Summit at Dromoland
Castle and the March 2005 Shamrock ceremony in Washington.


2. (C) The Ambassador raised the China arms embargo, noting
that lifting the embargo at this time would be a blow to
efforts to improve human rights conditions there and would
negatively affect security in East Asia. Ahern said that no
one in the EU wanted to sell the Chinese more weapons and
that the EU sought to achieve that goal by strengthening the
"protocol" embodied in the Code of Conduct. The Ambassador
noted that the amount of weapons in the recent past going to
China from EU states is an indicator that a Code of Conduct
will not necessarily restrict sales. Ahern responded that he
thought action might not be taken in the near term by the EU,
and said he clearly understood the depth of U.S. feeling on
the subject, including on Capital Hill.


3. (C) The Taoiseach was aware of the possible transit of
President Bush through Shannon airport on May 10. The
Ambassador told him it was a technical stop only, and noted
that the advance teams, in Shannon already to work on a
contingency basis, were receiving good cooperation from local
Irish authorities. The Taoiseach understood, and asked only
to be notified if the situation changed. He expected to see
the President in Moscow in any event.


4. (C) On Northern Ireland, the Taioseach said the Irish
government did not expect to hear anything definitive from
the IRA in response to Gerry Adams, call last month for
unilateral IRA disarmament until results of the UK election
sunk in. After the meeting, Ahern advisor Michael Collins
told the Ambassador that, in fact, Irish government contacts
with Sinn Fein had been sparse lately, and they have had no
indications of upcoming movement by the IRA in response to
Adams, call. In discussions with Embassy officials, Sinn
Fein representatives have expressed their hope for a positive
response from the IRA soon, but say they do not yet know
when. They cite Gerry Adams' re-election in Westminster
elections May 5 by an apparently increased percentage as a
positive sign of republican support for his call on the IRA.
KENNY