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