IRISH WILLING TO DO MORE IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000170 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR PGOV EAID EI SUBJECT: IRISH WILLING TO DO MORE IN AFGHANISTAN REF: A. DUBLIN 148 ¶B. STATE 31102 ¶C. STATE 29482 ¶D. DUBLIN 105 Classified By: Charge Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4(b/d). ¶1. (C) On April 21, Charge met with David Cooney, Secretary General, Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),to discuss how the Irish government could provide more assistance to Afghanistan. Cooney stated that Ireland would not send additional troops to support ISAF and that the Irish government had limited resources to commit to foreign assistance, especially due to the ongoing sharp economic downturn. (Note: Ireland currently provides seven troops to ISAF. End note.) Nonetheless, Cooney said that the Irish are "politically committed" to greater cooperation with the U.S. in Afghanistan, noting the warm reception Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen received from President Obama during the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington. ¶2. (C) Cooney suggested that the Irish might contribute to explosive ordnance disposal and improvised explosive device teams, or by increasing its development assistance. He indicated that senior Irish Police (Garda) officials were considering how they could contribute to police mentoring teams. David Donoghue, DFA Political Director, added that Ireland would maintain its current funding commitments to Afghanistan and that he expected development and reconstruction assistance to increase in spite of Ireland's overall reduction in international development assistance. (Note: Ireland has donated over 19 million euro to Afghanistan since 2005 in relief, recovery, and development assistance. End note.) ¶3. (C) Comment: The Irish are clearly committed to increasing its assistance to civilian initiatives in Afghanistan, but has not been able to focus on exactly how, especially in the face of our extensive requests (Ref. B). Cooney suggested that specific U.S. suggestions for increased Irish non-military assistance -- taking into account Ireland's limited means and the most urgent needs in the field -- would be helpful. Post requests that the Department provide us with such specifics so we can commence this dialogue. FAUCHER