US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN990

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000990 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NP/MNA, AC/ISN, VC/FO. GENEVA PLEASE PASS TO 
AMBASSADOR SANDERS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, KNNP, NPT 
SUBJECT: GOI SHOULD SUPPORT US REVCON AIMS, BUT EXPECT A 
PUSH ON DISARMAMENT 
 
REF: SECSTATE 139286 
 
1.  Summary.  Emboff delivered reftel points to Sarah 
McGrath, Deputy Director, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation 
Section of the DFA.  The GOI agrees that proliferation via a 
vis Iran and the DPRK is a serious problem and supports USG 
non-proliferation efforts.  However, McGrath reminded emboff 
that "compliance with the NPT is important and indivisible", 
and the Irish strongly support a balanced approach to the 
RevCon that focuses equally on proliferation and disarmament. 
 End Summary 
 
The PrepCom 
----------- 
 
2.  The GOI shares the USG,s disappointment with the 
PrepCom,s results.  While the GOI believes there was a good 
exchange of views on the substantive issues, the Irish would 
have preferred to see some substantive recommendations for 
the RevCon.  The GOI is happy that many procedural issues 
were settled.  The RevCon agenda is a priority, and should be 
settled as quickly as possible.  Privately, McGrath confided 
that Sudjadnan was an extremely ineffective chair and that 
this contributed to the disappointing results.  The GOI does 
expect their Permrep in Geneva to play a role in the RevCon. 
 
Non-Compliance Is a Problem 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  The GOI agrees that non-compliance with the NPT is a 
serious problem.  On Iran-- McGrath reminded emboff that the 
EU has a common position on Iran, and that it is one that the 
Irish support.  McGrath agreed that the issue should be 
discussed in consultations prior to the RevCon, but noted 
"it,s hard to know what,s going to happen in a year."  She 
added that the upcoming Iran/IAEA board meetings will clarify 
issues and give us a better picture of the situation.  On the 
DPRK -- the GOI believes this problem has moved beyond the 
NPT for the time being, but that if the DPRK does ultimately 
decide to honor its treaty obligations the GOI (and probably 
the EU) would be more comfortable with the position that the 
DPRK never left the treaty. 
 
4. The GOI strongly supports the USG,s efforts to make 
ratification of the Additional Protocol a condition of 
membership for the Nuclear Suppliers Group.  The GOI would 
like to see something to this effect in the Outcome Document. 
 
 
But Don,t Lose Focus on Disarmament 
----------------------------------- 
 
5.  The GOI is very concerned about proliferation, but it 
sees disarmament as an equally important issue.  McGrath 
repeatedly emphasized that any review of the NPT must be 
balanced.  The GOI does not want to lose focus on disarmament 
in pursuit of non-proliferation, and does not want to see a 
one-sided RevCon in which the declared states force 
concessions on non-proliferation while avoiding any serious 
commitments to disarm.  The GOI also strongly opposes 
treating disarmament commitments less seriously than 
non-proliferation commitments.  McGrath stressed that if the 
non-proliferation provisions are legally binding, the 
disarmament provisions must be as well.  The GOI feels it 
will be easier to gain concessions on proliferation if the 
declared states show they are sensitive to Non-nuclear 
states' disarmament concerns. 
 
Peaceful Use Is Not a High Salience Issue 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6.  Possible interference with peaceful uses in order to halt 
proliferation is not a major concern for the GOI because 
Ireland does not use nuclear energy and has no plans to do 
so.  However, the GOI is sensitive to the concerns of 
developing nations on this issue and does not want to see it 
turned into a north/south battle.  The GOI is only concerned 
about this issue so far as it affects the NPT, but still 
looks forward to consultations on either a bilateral or EU 
level.  McGrath did remind emboff that the Euratom treaty 
could complicate matters (because there can be no 
discrimination among EU member states with regard to atomic 
energy). 
 
Keep Up The Good Work With Article VI Communication 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
7.  Disarmament has traditionally been an important issue for 
Ireland and other non-aligned countries, and they want 
information about the disarmament efforts of the declared 
nuclear powers.  McGrath said that the GOI notes USG Article 
VI efforts, and commends USG transparency on this issue.  She 
added that the USG does a much better job communicating on 
this subject then some of the other declared states.  While 
the USG,s annual presentation on disarmament is very good, 
the USG might consider submitting a more official "annual 
report". 
KENNY