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