US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1525

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001525 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EUN 
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSES TO PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRAQ, 
CHINA, LIBYA, SUDAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 214023 
     B. DUBLIN 1450 
     C. DUBLIN 1466 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mary Daly, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (U) On October 7, Post delivered ref A talking points on 
Libya, China, Cyprus, Sudan, and Iraq to Gerard Keown, 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) European Correspondent. 
 
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Libya 
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2.  (C) Keown affirmed that the October 11 GAERC would ratify 
the September 22 COREPER decision to lift the EU arms embargo 
against Libya (reiterating the DFA response to our September 
29 demarche, ref B).  He explained that the EU belives that 
lifting the embargo is consistent with the USG-supported 
removal of UN sanctions against Libya in 2003 and would be a 
first step in an incremental process that could lead to 
enhanced EU-Libya relations.  Each step would require 
demonstrations of Libyan good faith to move the process 
forward.  Keown mentioned, in particular, the need for the 
Libyan Government to resolve the situation with the Bulgarian 
medics.  He also explained that Libya's end goal was 
participation in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, a factor 
that the EU could use to solicit Libyan compliance with 
EU-stipulated actions on the road to better relations. 
 
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China Arms Embargo 
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3.  (C) Keown said that the October 11 GAERC would not decide 
on the China arms embargo, but would rather take stock of EU 
discussions to date on the issue (consistent with DFA views 
in ref C).  He noted that the GAERC would likely focus on 
suggestions to strengthen and enforce the Code of Conduct, 
the proposed alternative to the embargo.  He added that the 
likely outcome of the GAERC meeting would be a consensus on 
the need for additional discussion. 
 
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Cyprus 
------ 
 
4.  (C) The EU's intention was precisely to deal with aid and 
direct trade measures for the Turkish Cypriots in a way that 
would continue to show support for the pro-solution forces in 
the north, said Keown.  He also mentioned that there would be 
euro 240 million immediately available in EU assistance to 
Cyprus if a solution could be reached. 
 
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Darfur, Sudan 
------------- 
 
5.  (C) According to Keown, the EU provides direct technical 
assistance to the African Union (AU) mission, and there are 
plans to increase aid to the mission in the near term.  Keown 
underscored the EU's stance on respecting and encouraging the 
AU's leadership role.  The EU was thus awaiting requests from 
the AU on its assistance needs.  Keown expressed EU concern 
that the Sudanese Government would use the Abjua process on 
Darfur to slow negotiations toward a North-South solution. 
The EU also hoped that visits to Sudan in recent days by UN 
representatives would help to accelerate the Commission of 
Inquiry's work. 
 
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Iraq - Elections and Police Training 
------------------------------------ 
 
6. (C) Keown noted that Iraq was not on the GAERC meeting 
agenda, adding that election monitoring and police training 
remain under EU discussion at the technical level. 
DALY