RUSSIANS TAKE BLAME FOR OIL SPILL OFF IRISH COAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000102 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHSA RU EI SUBJECT: RUSSIANS TAKE BLAME FOR OIL SPILL OFF IRISH COAST REF: DUBLIN 71 Classified By: Acting PEO Chief Dwight Nystrom. Reasons 1.4(b/d). ¶1. (C) On February 27, Emboff spoke with Ruaidhri Dowling, Deputy Director of the Russia/Europe Office at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, regarding the February 14 oil spill off Ireland's coast (reftel). Dowling said that a "reasonably senior" Russian delegation met with the Irish Coast Guard and other government agencies and admitted that the oil spill came from the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov. Dowling said that both sides agreed that the amount of oil in the water was about 30 tons -- much smaller than the figure originally reported. The Russians said that the oil was mixed in with bilge water that had been dumped in the sea. Dowling said the Irish government was "satisfied" with the explanation and that the oil was dissipating rapidly and posed little, if any, threat to the Irish or Welsh coasts. FAUCHER