Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DUBLIN358
2009-09-10 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000358
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI EUN
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON GYMNICH, GAERC
REF: A. REFS: A. NARDI E-MAIL &GAERC POINTS8 09/05/09
B. STATE 92641
C. DUBLIN 348
DUBLIN 00000358 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000358
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI EUN
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON GYMNICH, GAERC
REF: A. REFS: A. NARDI E-MAIL &GAERC POINTS8 09/05/09
B. STATE 92641
C. DUBLIN 348
DUBLIN 00000358 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
1. (SBU) Summary: On September 9, Poloff spoke with Peter
Ryan, European Correspondent in the Irish Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the September 4-5 EU FMs,
Gymnich meeting and their upcoming GAERC meeting on September
14-15. According to Ryan, EU FMs, concerned by developments
in Afghanistan, are still chewing on the draft EU
Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy. On Iran, the EU FMs asked for
further working-level analysis before deciding on next steps.
On the Middle East, FMs appeared upbeat on the prospects for
peace and hopeful that Syria might play a constructive role.
Substantive discussion on Sri Lanka is not slated for next
week,s GAERC, and detailed discussion of the EU as a global
player has been postponed until the October GAERC. NOTE:
Although Ryan traveled to the Gymnich with Irish FM Micheal
Martin, he did not attend the FMs, discussions. This report
is based on briefings Ryan received from the Swedish EU
Presidency. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
AFGHANISTAN: MOOD DOWNBEAT, BUT EU STAYING COURSE
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Ryan said that the general mood at Gymnich on
Afghanistan appeared to be downbeat. EU FMs were concerned
about the fairness of the elections, the deteriorating
security situation and the need better to inform European
publics on what the EU was doing in Afghanistan and why. He
said that, in response to many FMs, laments that their
publics were increasingly questioning the purpose and wisdom
of EU involvement in Afghanistan, the Swedish EU Presidency
asked member states for input by this week into the EU
Commission,s &Blue Book8 that would outline what the EU
was doing in Afghanistan and why. According to Ryan, some
FMs called for an increase of personnel for the EU Police
Mission in Afghanistan.
--------------
AFPAK STRATEGY PAPER SPLIT IN TWO?
--------------
3. (C) On Pakistan, Ryan said only that FMs had decided at
Gymnich that two strategy papers were needed, one on Pakistan
and the other on Afghanistan.
--------------
UNCERTAINTY ON IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Regarding internal developments in Iran, Ryan said EU
FMs, reactions were a mix of encouragement at the signs of a
reawakening of civil society and opposition, and dismay at
the show trials, the ascendance of the hardliners, and
Iran,s stonewalling at the IAEA. Some FMs argued that any
additional EU sanctions should wait until the domestic
climate in Iran stabilized, lest a harder EU line result in
an even worse crackdown on the domestic Iranian opposition.
Finally, EU FMs requested a working-level analysis on Iran to
help guide them on next steps.
--------------
EU UPBEAT ON MIDDLE EAST
--------------
5. (C) Commenting on EU High Representative Javier Solana,s
briefing of FMs at Gymnich on his recent trip to the Middle
East, the Swedish EU presidency used the phrase &window of
opportunity8 several times, according to Ryan. The EU
supports U.S. efforts in the region, and is eager to help in
any way possible. There was some discussion of the timing of
a possible &upgrade8 in EU-Israel relations, with general
consensus being the EU should hold off on any such move until
concrete progress had been made in the peace process. Ryan
said he believed the EU was hopeful that Syria could play a
constructive role in the Middle East Peace Process, and
predicted that the EU would approve an Association Agreement
with Syria soon.
--------------
SRI LANKA NOT TO BE DISCUSSED AT GAERC
--------------
DUBLIN 00000358 002.2 OF 002
6. (C) Poloff delivered ref B points on Sri Lanka, and Ryan
said the EU was no longer planning to discuss Sri Lanka at
the GAERC. He said, however, that Ireland and the EU shared
U.S. concerns, outlined in ref B, about the slow pace of
release of IDPs from the detention camps, and promised to
pass our message on Sri Lanka on within the DFA.
--------------
EU AS GLOBAL PLAYER
--------------
7. (C) Ryan said plans to discuss at Gymnich how the EU would
undertake to increase its weight as a global player proved
premature. Since the requisite EU restructuring would take
place under the Lisbon Treaty, FMs decided to postpone
discussions until after the second Irish referendum on Lisbon
on October 2 (septel). Ryan predicted that the October GAERC
would discuss the topic in detail if Irish voters approve the
Lisbon Treaty.
FAUCHER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI EUN
SUBJECT: IRELAND ON GYMNICH, GAERC
REF: A. REFS: A. NARDI E-MAIL &GAERC POINTS8 09/05/09
B. STATE 92641
C. DUBLIN 348
DUBLIN 00000358 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4(b/d).
1. (SBU) Summary: On September 9, Poloff spoke with Peter
Ryan, European Correspondent in the Irish Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) about the September 4-5 EU FMs,
Gymnich meeting and their upcoming GAERC meeting on September
14-15. According to Ryan, EU FMs, concerned by developments
in Afghanistan, are still chewing on the draft EU
Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy. On Iran, the EU FMs asked for
further working-level analysis before deciding on next steps.
On the Middle East, FMs appeared upbeat on the prospects for
peace and hopeful that Syria might play a constructive role.
Substantive discussion on Sri Lanka is not slated for next
week,s GAERC, and detailed discussion of the EU as a global
player has been postponed until the October GAERC. NOTE:
Although Ryan traveled to the Gymnich with Irish FM Micheal
Martin, he did not attend the FMs, discussions. This report
is based on briefings Ryan received from the Swedish EU
Presidency. End Summary.
-------------- --------------
AFGHANISTAN: MOOD DOWNBEAT, BUT EU STAYING COURSE
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Ryan said that the general mood at Gymnich on
Afghanistan appeared to be downbeat. EU FMs were concerned
about the fairness of the elections, the deteriorating
security situation and the need better to inform European
publics on what the EU was doing in Afghanistan and why. He
said that, in response to many FMs, laments that their
publics were increasingly questioning the purpose and wisdom
of EU involvement in Afghanistan, the Swedish EU Presidency
asked member states for input by this week into the EU
Commission,s &Blue Book8 that would outline what the EU
was doing in Afghanistan and why. According to Ryan, some
FMs called for an increase of personnel for the EU Police
Mission in Afghanistan.
--------------
AFPAK STRATEGY PAPER SPLIT IN TWO?
--------------
3. (C) On Pakistan, Ryan said only that FMs had decided at
Gymnich that two strategy papers were needed, one on Pakistan
and the other on Afghanistan.
--------------
UNCERTAINTY ON IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Regarding internal developments in Iran, Ryan said EU
FMs, reactions were a mix of encouragement at the signs of a
reawakening of civil society and opposition, and dismay at
the show trials, the ascendance of the hardliners, and
Iran,s stonewalling at the IAEA. Some FMs argued that any
additional EU sanctions should wait until the domestic
climate in Iran stabilized, lest a harder EU line result in
an even worse crackdown on the domestic Iranian opposition.
Finally, EU FMs requested a working-level analysis on Iran to
help guide them on next steps.
--------------
EU UPBEAT ON MIDDLE EAST
--------------
5. (C) Commenting on EU High Representative Javier Solana,s
briefing of FMs at Gymnich on his recent trip to the Middle
East, the Swedish EU presidency used the phrase &window of
opportunity8 several times, according to Ryan. The EU
supports U.S. efforts in the region, and is eager to help in
any way possible. There was some discussion of the timing of
a possible &upgrade8 in EU-Israel relations, with general
consensus being the EU should hold off on any such move until
concrete progress had been made in the peace process. Ryan
said he believed the EU was hopeful that Syria could play a
constructive role in the Middle East Peace Process, and
predicted that the EU would approve an Association Agreement
with Syria soon.
--------------
SRI LANKA NOT TO BE DISCUSSED AT GAERC
--------------
DUBLIN 00000358 002.2 OF 002
6. (C) Poloff delivered ref B points on Sri Lanka, and Ryan
said the EU was no longer planning to discuss Sri Lanka at
the GAERC. He said, however, that Ireland and the EU shared
U.S. concerns, outlined in ref B, about the slow pace of
release of IDPs from the detention camps, and promised to
pass our message on Sri Lanka on within the DFA.
--------------
EU AS GLOBAL PLAYER
--------------
7. (C) Ryan said plans to discuss at Gymnich how the EU would
undertake to increase its weight as a global player proved
premature. Since the requisite EU restructuring would take
place under the Lisbon Treaty, FMs decided to postpone
discussions until after the second Irish referendum on Lisbon
on October 2 (septel). Ryan predicted that the October GAERC
would discuss the topic in detail if Irish voters approve the
Lisbon Treaty.
FAUCHER