IRELAND AGREES WITH U.S. AGENDA ON FMCT; MAINTAINS

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000881 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MNSA GENEVA FOR CD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL KNNP UNGA CDG EI SUBJECT: IRELAND AGREES WITH U.S. AGENDA ON FMCT; MAINTAINS CONCERNS ON VERIFICATION REF: A. STATE 120281 ¶B. DUBLIN 736 ¶1. On July 25, emboff delivered ref A demarche on FMCT support to Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Section Third Secretary Michael Keaveney. Keaveney welcomed the U.S. plan to direct Western non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS) to lobby other NNWS members of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) to support publicly the U.S. draft mandate CD/1776. Ireland is fully prepared to let the U.S., France, and the UK lobby the nuclear weapons states and NPT non-parties. ¶2. Keaveney reiterated that the GOI does not endorse the U.S. draft treaty as it currently stands because it has no provisions for international and effective verification (see ref B). However, Ireland understands the importance of positive movement in the CD and will support CD/1776 based on its ability to achieve consensus. Keaveney also repeated the GOI view that Russia and China are most likely to block an agreement on an FMCT. ¶3. Keaveney asked for clarification on the U.S. timeline for progress on an FMCT, wishing to know if the U.S. views this as a quick process towards a final agreement or if the upcoming CD session is seen as simply a starting point for protracted negotiations. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit Dublin's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/dublin/index. cfm KENNY