IRISH RESPONSE TO DEAD SEA MEETING DEMARCHE

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000872

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO DEAD SEA MEETING DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 127710


1. On July 12, Post delivered reftel demarche to Fiona
McCabe, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Third Secretary
for the Middle East and North Africa. McCabe noted that
Ireland would not send a representative to the July 18-19
Dead Sea Donors Committee Meeting and was not planning to
announce any new forms of support for Iraq. Recently, the
GOI had considered, but had decided against, contributing
personnel to the EU's proposed rule of law and police
training program for Iraq.


2. McCabe reviewed Ireland's support for Iraq to date,
summarized as follows:

A) The GOI donated euro 5 million for immediate humanitarian
needs in Iraq upon cessation of the conflict in 2003.

B) At the 2003 Madrid Conference, Ireland pledged euro 3
million (in addition to the euro 5 million already donated).

C) Of the euro 3 million Madrid pledge, euro 1.5 million has
already been allocated -- euro 1 million to the UNICEF
primary education program in 2004, and euro 500,000 (in two
installments in 2004 and 2005) to the Marsh Arabs via AMAR
for primary health care.

D) In 2004, Ireland allocated euro 500,000 for the UN
protection force, but not out of the pledge made at the
Madrid Conference.


3. McCabe pointed out that euro 1.5 million of the Madrid
had not yet been allocated. She explained that continuing
security problems in Iraq have slowed the pace of
reconstruction, including the work of international bodies
and NGOs. The drawdown of Ireland's pledged funding has thus
been curtailed.

KENNY