Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBLIN98
2006-01-27 15:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND URGES CALM ON HAMAS,

Tags:  PREL EUN EI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHDL #0098/01 0271527
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271527Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6436
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0021
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0183
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0110
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000098 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016
TAGS: PREL EUN EI
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND URGES CALM ON HAMAS,
SEQUENTIAL APPROACH TO IRAN

REF: A. SECSTATE 11254


B. DUBLIN 54

Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000098

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2016
TAGS: PREL EUN EI
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND URGES CALM ON HAMAS,
SEQUENTIAL APPROACH TO IRAN

REF: A. SECSTATE 11254


B. DUBLIN 54

Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: On January 26, Post delivered reftel
points to Jim Kelly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
European Correspondent, and Siobhan Coyne, DFA Deputy
European Correspondent. The GOI, said Kelly, regards the
Iranian regime's behavior as unacceptable and supports the
EU-3's intention to request that the IAEA Board of Governors
report Iran's nuclear safeguard violations to the UNSC at the
February 2-3 IAEA Board meeting, per ref B. He stated that
the GOI was pleased with the December 15 elections in Iraq
and was looking forward to working through the EU to continue
assistance to Iraq's development efforts. Regarding Hamas'
successful showing in the January 26 Palestinian Authority
(PA) elections, the GOI maintains its position that Hamas'
advocacy/campaign of violence was incompatible with the
democratic process. Ireland will be represented on the OSCE
team that will observe Belarus' March 19 presidential
election, said Kelly. In reference to the Balkans, he
observed that the GOI was optimistic but not unrealistic
about the challenges involved in achieving a maximum
consensus for the Montenegrin referendum process. He also
cited the GOI's continued support for decentralization as a
key confidence-building measure as Pristina and Belgrade move
forward on the Kosovo status talks. End summary.

IRAN
--------------


2. (C) Like most of the international community, said
Kelly, the GOI regards the Iranian Government's behavior as
unacceptable and supports the EU-3's intention to request
that the IAEA Board of Governors report Iran's nuclear
safeguard violations to the UNSC at the February 2-3 IAEA
Board meeting (per ref B). He stated that discussions
concerning Iran at the January 30 GAERC were likely to focus
on the EU-3's draft IAEA resolution. Regarding reftel point
recommending EU consideration of possible sanctions against
Iran, Kelly noted that the GOI preferred at this time to
pursue the issue in a sequential manner, with referral to the
UNSC as the first step. Kelly also cited press reports on

Iran's possible renewed interest in Russia's uranium
enrichment offer, and he stressed that the GOI would continue
to judge the Iranian Government by its actions, not words, in
that regard.

IRAQ
--------------


3. (C) Kelly said that the GOI was pleased with the
December 15 elections in Iraq and was looking forward to
working through the EU to continue assistance to Iraq. He
mentioned that the GOI had previously pledged Euro 3 million
to Iraqi development, but that only Euro 1.5 million of this
sum had been spent. Kelly expressed hope that improvements
on the ground in Iraq, which had made possible the opening of
an EU mission in Baghdad, would create opportunities to
disburse the remainder of Ireland's pledge.

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
--------------


4. (C) Regarding Hamas' successful showing in the January
26 Palestinian Authority (PA) elections, the GOI maintains
its position that Hamas' advocacy/campaign of violence was
incompatible with the democratic process. While noting that
the principles underpinning the Quartet's approach to the
peace process had not changed, Kelly cited questions now
before the international community as to whether the
Palestinian Authority could remain a partner in that process.
He added that the GOI would counsel a calm EU readjustment
to the realities presented by Hamas' victory. He also
reaffirmed that the GOI, in line with the EU-wide position,
does not have contact with Hamas.

BELARUS
--------------


5. (C) Ireland will be represented on the OSCE team that
will observe Belarus' March 19 presidential election, said
Kelly. He noted that Belarus opposition party leader
Alyanksandr Milinkevich would meet EU foreign ministers on
the margins of the January 30 GAERC, and that Ireland hoped
to participate in these meetings. He said that the GOI fully

DUBLIN 00000098 002 OF 002


agreed with the USG points on supporting independent media
and civil society in Belarus in the lead-up to, and aftermath
of, the election. Emboffs requested that the Irish
government make a statement to this effect prior to
elections, and Kelly offered to forward the request to
Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, whom, he said, had a
long-standing interest in Belarus.

MONTENEGRO
--------------


6. (C) Kelly said that the GOI was optimistic but not
unrealistic about the challenges involved in achieving a
maximum consensus for the Montenegrin referendum process. He
added that the GOI was also very pleased with Ambassador
Lacjak's early efforts to facilitate negotiations among
political actors on the referendum. He also noted that
representatives from Montenegro might be present at the
January 30 GAERC, where discussion would be framed by the
Commission's anticipated Communication on the Balkans.

KOSOVO
--------------


7. (C) Kelly cited the tragedy of President Rugova's death,
coming on the eve of the start of the Kosovo status talks.
He observed that the GOI continued to view decentralization
as the key confidence-building measure for Belgrade and
Pristina in the status process. Kelly expected that EU
incentives to encourage progress would be included in the
Commission's pending Communication on the Balkans. Ireland,
he added, anticipated a central EU role in the international
presence in Kosovo after the status talks, though specifics
were as yet unclear.



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