NORTHERN IRELAND LEADERS THANK SPECIAL ENVOY DOBRIANSKY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELFAST 000005


DEPT FOR EUR/WE
NSC FOR ANSLEY; DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/13/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UK EI
SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRELAND LEADERS THANK SPECIAL ENVOY DOBRIANSKY

CLASSIFIED BY: Susan Elliott, Consul General, AmConsul Belfast,
State Department.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
This cable was cleared by Under Secretary Dobriansky.


1. (C) Summary: On January 7-8, Special Envoy for Northern
Ireland Ambassador Paula Dobriansky made farewell calls on
Northern Ireland political leaders. Everyone paid tribute to
the Special Envoy for her efforts during the past two years and
praised the role the United States has played in bringing peace
to Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein leaders were especially grateful
for Dobriansky's support on the issue of devolution of policing
and justice, but noted concerns about UK government funding as a
potential problem. Sinn Fein also highlighted other concerns,
including the problem of former IRA members suspected of crimes
who are unable to return to the United Kingdom for fear of
arrest. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leaders expressed their
sincere appreciation for Dobriansky's role in the planning of
the May 2008 US-NI Investment Conference. Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward also made a special trip to
Belfast on January 7 on behalf of UK Prime Minister Brown to
thank the Special Envoy for her efforts. End Summary.

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Sinn Fein Leaders: "On the Runs" Now A Priority
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2. (C) Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and Deputy First Minister
Martin McGuinness praised Special Envoy Dobriansky for her work
in assisting with the peace process, particularly the role she
played on moving forward the devolution of policing and justice.
Adams noted there were other outstanding issues that Sinn Fein
would like to resolve, including the status of "on the runs",
who are persons charged or suspected of involvement with
IRA-related crimes, who would be arrested should they return to
Northern Ireland. Adams spoke about the case of Sinn Fein's US
Representative Rita O'Hare, who is based in Dublin. O'Hare, who
has been "on the run" since 1972, was unable to attend her
parents' funerals because she fears returning to Northern
Ireland. Adams said situation was absurd since if O'Hare were to
win an elected position in Northern Ireland, she likely would be
free to return without fear of arrest. Adams and McGuinness
provided further examples of problems facing former IRA members,
including cases where former prisoners were unable to obtain
teaching positions or even obtain a taxi license. McGuinness
praised Conservative Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen
Patterson as having a very progressive attitude on the issue of
ex-prisoners. When asked about obtaining assistance from
Woodward, Adams said that he had given up on the Secretary of
State for Northern Ireland assisting with this issue, commenting
that Woodward "promises everything and delivers nothing." Adams
did praise the work the Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI) has done in clearing names of some persons, allowing them
to return home.


3. (C) On devolution of policing and justice, McGuinness
expressed concern that while everything could come into place
legislatively in 2009, DUP First Minister Peter Robinson might
say that without adequate funding from the British government,
devolution cannot move forward. He lamented that, while work
continues on the mechanics and process of devolution, without
adequate funding from the British government, the DUP could
stall forward movement on the process.

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DUP Leaders: Praise on Investment Support
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4. (C) Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson and Enterprise, Trade
and Investment Minister Arlene Foster conveyed their thanks to
the Special Envoy on behalf of the DUP (First Minister Robinson
was out of the country). Donaldson noted that Unionism is very
interested in ensuring that peace and prosperity continue in
Northern Ireland, and thanked the Special Envoy for helping with
this. Donaldson told Dobriansky that a delegation of Iraqi
politicians had been in Belfast that day, and he was very
interested in continuing efforts to share Northern Ireland's
lessons with them as well, and in assisting in other conflict
areas around the world. Foster thanked the Special Envoy for
her efforts to attract investment. She acknowledged that there
had been some criticism in Northern Ireland that the May 2008
Investment Conference had not yet produced any new investment,
but said her ministry would be countering this by explaining
that it would take some time before investments coming out of
the conference were set.

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Other Parties Grateful for Special Envoy Role
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5. (C) The Special Envoy also met with party leaders from the
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP),the Social Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP),the Alliance Party, and Progressive Unionist Party
(PUP),and all agreed on the need for the new U.S.
administration to maintain the Special Envoy position, saying
that the U.S. dimension in Northern Ireland remains very
important. (Dobriansky said that she had expressed her strong
recommendation to the transition team that the Envoy position be
retained.) Alliance Party members noted the positive role
President Bush had played in Northern Ireland, and expressed a
desire to be involved in President-elect Obama plans for the
2009 St Patrick's Day events. PUP Leader Dawn Purvis told
Dobriansky that a recent survey had highlighted an increase in
young people identifying themselves as "Northern Irish" instead
of Irish or British, a positive indication of a desire to have a
Northern Ireland everyone can buy into, and to break from the
old sectarian divisions.

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Woodward: Special Visit to Thank Special Envoy
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6. (C) UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward
made a special visit to Belfast January 7 to bid farewell and
thank Special Envoy Dobriansky for her efforts during the past
two years. He praised her hard work and positive impact on the
political and economic situation in Northern Ireland.


ELLIOTT