Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DUBLIN37
2009-01-22 11:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
IRISH SUPPORT EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO2378 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHDL #0037 0221137 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221137Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9716 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0047 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0049 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0200 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0028
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000037
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2019
TAGS: PREL EI
SUBJECT: IRISH SUPPORT EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 1985
Classified By: Pol/Econ Section Chief Ted Pierce;
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000037
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2019
TAGS: PREL EI
SUBJECT: IRISH SUPPORT EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 1985
Classified By: Pol/Econ Section Chief Ted Pierce;
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel demarche on January 12, 2009
to Pat Kelly, Director, Middle East and North Africa
Division, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and his deputy,
Stephen Dawson, DFA's Iran/Syria expert. Dawson indicated
that the EU intends to continue preparations for the
Agreement, but is not prepared to sign quite yet. He
acknowledged U.S. concerns. Nonetheless, he noted that
Ireland and other EU member states see Syria as being
somewhat more responsive recently, seemingly more inclined to
play a constructive role in the Middle East, and interested
in developing closer ties with nations other than Iran. Such
positive movement should be rewarded, Dawson said, not lead
to greater isolation of a key player in the Middle East peace
process. He pointed out that Association Agreements are the
mechanism the EU uses to engage its neighbors, and commented
that it would be inconsistent (from the Irish and EU
perspective) to deny an Association Agreement with Syria
while staunchly defending the existing Association Agreement
with Israel in the face of public demands that it be
abrogated in response to Israel's recent incursion into Gaza.
The bottom line, Kelly said, was that Ireland would support
EU efforts to achieve broader engagement with Syria through
an Association Agreement.
FAUCHER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2019
TAGS: PREL EI
SUBJECT: IRISH SUPPORT EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
REF: STATE 1985
Classified By: Pol/Econ Section Chief Ted Pierce;
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel demarche on January 12, 2009
to Pat Kelly, Director, Middle East and North Africa
Division, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and his deputy,
Stephen Dawson, DFA's Iran/Syria expert. Dawson indicated
that the EU intends to continue preparations for the
Agreement, but is not prepared to sign quite yet. He
acknowledged U.S. concerns. Nonetheless, he noted that
Ireland and other EU member states see Syria as being
somewhat more responsive recently, seemingly more inclined to
play a constructive role in the Middle East, and interested
in developing closer ties with nations other than Iran. Such
positive movement should be rewarded, Dawson said, not lead
to greater isolation of a key player in the Middle East peace
process. He pointed out that Association Agreements are the
mechanism the EU uses to engage its neighbors, and commented
that it would be inconsistent (from the Irish and EU
perspective) to deny an Association Agreement with Syria
while staunchly defending the existing Association Agreement
with Israel in the face of public demands that it be
abrogated in response to Israel's recent incursion into Gaza.
The bottom line, Kelly said, was that Ireland would support
EU efforts to achieve broader engagement with Syria through
an Association Agreement.
FAUCHER