IRISH RESPONSE TO ORAL MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY

S E C R E T DUBLIN 000763 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014 TAGS: PREL SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO ORAL MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ REF: STATE 114212 Classified By: POL/ECON DCM JBENTON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D) ¶1. (S) On June 20, emboff delivered reftel oral message to Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, Stephen Dawson. Dawson said that the GOI position on Iraq is in line with that of the United States. He said that Ireland supports the democratically elected Iraqi transitional government (ITG) and finds its new leadership role "heartening." He added that the GOI believes that it is a good idea to keep pressure on Syria to reduce the number of insurgents crossing the border into Iraq. He noted, however, that Ireland will not be making a statement on Iraq independent of the EU. ¶2. (S) Dawson added that talks between EU member states have revealed that the Iraqis are pressing for aid to help the physical re-structuring of Iraq while European concerns are to build the ITG's capacity for governance. ¶3. (S) Dawson also noted that the failure of the EU constitution in several member states could devolve into "squabbling" over Iraq as members seek to position themselves politically by pointing fingers at past divisions within the union. KENNY