Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DUBLIN170
2009-04-22 13:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
IRISH WILLING TO DO MORE IN AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO6128 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHDL #0170 1121344 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221344Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9951 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0036
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).
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
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