IRISH VIEWS OF THE JUNE 16-17 FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000357 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018 TAGS: IS PHUM PREL PGOV EI SUBJECT: IRISH VIEWS OF THE JUNE 16-17 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: STATE 62450 Classified By: Pol/Econ Section Chief Ted Pierce; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel demarche on June 12 to Pat Kelly, European Correspondent, Department of Foreign Affairs. EU Foreign Ministers will be briefed by High Representative Javier Solana following his scheduled discussions with Iranian leaders in Tehran, June 14-15. There are no plans to increase EC representation in Iraq. The Irish Government is concerned about the continuing violence in the Middle East; Ireland is still discussing whether to participate in the Berlin Conference. Ireland supports Arab League efforts to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon. Kelly indicated that EU restrictive measures on CUBA would likely be rescinded during the GAERC, saying that he did not think it likely that benchmarks would be attached to the lifting. The Irish think the transition from UNMIK to EULEX in Kosovo is proceeding well. They do not anticipate any immediate difficulties when Kosovo's constitution comes into effect on June 15. The Irish think the EUFOR operations in Chad are going well. End summary. -------------- Iran -------------- ¶2. (C) Kelly indicated that no conclusions would be reached on Iran during the GAERC. Mainly, he said, the Foreign Ministers would listen to High Representative Javier Solana's report-out on his discussions with Iranian leaders in Tehran, June 14-15. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶3. (C) Kelly said he was not aware of any plans to increase EC representation in Iraq. Nor, he said, was he aware of any proposed dates for a Solana visit. -------------- Israeli-Palestinian Peace -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Kelly expressed the concern of the Irish Government in the continuing violence in the Middle East and the roadblocks to the roadmap. He noted that the Irish Government sees the solution to the Middle East's problems as possible only over the long-term, saying that it was unrealistic to expect a great deal of progress by the end of the year. He indicated that Ireland was still discussing (through their equivalent of an inter-agency process) whether it would participate in the Berlin Conference, pointing out that there have been substantial recent requests for additional funding in the region, e.g., Iraq and Lebanon. -------------- Lebanon -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Kelly reiterated that Ireland supports Arab League efforts to resolve the political crisis in Lebanon, noting that there would be no conclusion on Lebanon at this month's GAERC. -------------- Sudan/Darfur -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Kelly stated that the Irish agree with the U.S. views on Sudan/Darfur, saying that the Darfur peace process was certainly in need of reinvigoration. He noted that Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, was conducting an investigation into Darfur, the outcome of which would help guide future EU policy on Sudan and Darfur. -------------- Cuba -------------- ¶7. (C) Kelly said that the EU restrictive measures on CUBA would likely be rescinded during the GAERC. He did not think it likely that benchmarks would be attached to the lifting, saying that it was better to start the dialogue and efforts to support democracy and human rights on a basis that is as DUBLIN 00000357 002 OF 002 "positive and open as possible." -------------- Western Balkans -------------- ¶8. (C) Regarding Kosovo, Kelly indicated the Irish think the transition from UNMIK to EULEX is proceeding well. He described the UN as cooperative on the ground. Kelly did not anticipate any immediate difficulties when Kosovo's constitution comes into effect on June 15. -------------- Chad -------------- ¶9. (C) Noting that Ireland commands the EUFOR troops and has about 360 boots on the ground, Kelly described the EUFOR operations as going well. He indicated that Ireland did not expect much action with the advent of the rainy season. FOLEY