IRELAND CONDUCTS LITTLE CIVIL SOCIETY AND

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000029

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IR
SUBJECT: IRELAND CONDUCTS LITTLE CIVIL SOCIETY AND
DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING IN IRAN

REF: STATE 2659


1. (U) POLOFF spoke with Stephen Dawson, Deputy Regional
Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Department
of Foreign Affairs, on January 11.


2. (SBU) Ireland maintains a two-officer mission in Iran led
by Ambassador John Deady. Dawson indicated that while
Ireland supports democratic reform in Iran, Ambassador Deany
has very little money for public diplomacy initiatives.
Dawson said that no NGOs were receiving Irish Government
funding for activities in Iran. He was not aware of any
Irish NGOs operating in Iran independently.


3. (SBU) Dawson said he would pass our reftel demarche to
Ambassador Deady and suggested that the Ambassador would be
interested in liaising with bilateral and NGO partners to
promote democracy in Iran.
BENTON