US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1607

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 001607 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2014 
TAGS: TRGY, TSPL, TNGD, ENRG 
SUBJECT: IRISH ON ITER: "THE COMMISSION HAS THE LEAD" 
 
REF: STATE 223994 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary Daly, reasons 1.4 (B) 
and (D). 
 
1.  (C) On October 22, Post delivered reftel talking points 
regarding the International Thermonuclear Experimental 
Reactor (ITER) to James McIntyre, Department of Foreign 
Affairs (DFA) Counsellor for EU External Relations.  McIntyre 
said that the Irish were not directly involved in 
negotiations among the ITER parties on the future location of 
the reactor, as EU Member States had given the Commission a 
mandate to negotiate on their behalf.  He noted that the 
Commission would reiterate its commitment to the six-party 
framework at the parties' meeting in Vienna, now delayed 
beyond October 23.  He added, however, that the Commission 
would work to maintain full international participation in 
the project in the context of the decision to be taken at the 
November 25 meeting of the EU Council (Competitiveness). 
McIntyre could not predict whether the Commission would 
respond favorably to Japan's "host/non-host" offer, but he 
pointed out that the EU appreciated Japan's willingness to 
discuss project costs and management before the location 
issue had been finalized. 
KENNY