IRELAND ENCOURAGES BALANCED APPROACH TO SARG

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000440

SIPDIS

NEA/ELA ERICA MILLER AND STEPHEN NEWHOUSE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY EUN EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND ENCOURAGES BALANCED APPROACH TO SARG

REF: STATE 78880

Classified By: Acting PEO Chief Dwight Nystrom. Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) On July 25, 2008, we delivered reftel demarche to
Stephen Dawson, Deputy Director for Middle East and North
Africa at the Department of Foreign Affairs. While Ireland
is generally in agreement with the U.S. position, Dawson said
that his government would likely engage with Syria at an
earlier stage than would the U.S. and indicated that the
international community should acknowledge the positive steps
Syria has taken. Referring to a lesson his government
learned during the Northern Ireland peace process, Dawson
said, "if the bar is too high, you hand control over to the
hard liners." That said, Ireland remains skeptical that
Syria's recent activities indicate a true intent to
change.Although Ireland does not have an Embassy in Syria,
Dawson did not rule out a visit to Damascus the next time a
senior-level Irish official is in the region.
FOLEY