US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1783

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001783 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ETTC, KPAL, EUN 
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE 
 
REF: A. STATE 258831 
 
     B. DUBLIN 1735 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Benton, reasons 1.4 (B) 
 and (D). 
 
1.  (U) On December 9, Post delivered reftel talking points 
to Gerard Keown, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU 
Correspondent. 
 
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Ukraine 
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2.  (C) The common line taken by the EU and United States 
regarding the Ukrainian crisis had been immensely 
constructive, said Keown.  He noted that the EU welcomed the 
December 8 agreements reached in Kiev on restructuring the 
Central Election Commission and replacing Prosecutor General 
Vasiliyev, which had been key OSCE recommendations.  (The 
demarche took place before news reports about apparent 
backtracking on the agreements by the Ukrainian Government.) 
He cited the EU's hope that all sides would continue to show 
restraint and that the outcome of the December 26 rerun 
elections would reflect the will of the Ukrainian people. 
(Keown will be one of several Irish DFA officials serving as 
election monitors on December 26.) 
 
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The Middle East 
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3.  (C) The EU fully concurred with USG talking points on the 
Middle East, said Keown.  He noted that the EU had provided a 
technical assistance package for the January 9 Palestinian 
elections and would send an observer mission.  The EU also 
had in place a financial assistance package for the 
Palestinian Authority targeting governance reforms, 
infrastructure, and security.  Keown cited the EU view that 
the Palestinian elections would require the widest possible 
participation, and he commended recent Israeli commitments to 
Secretary Powell to examine possibilities for freedom of 
 
SIPDIS 
movement by Palestinian voters.  Keown added that the EU 
appreciated the positive influence that that USG was 
exercising on the Israeli Government and hoped that Prime 
Minister Sharon would view the Palestinians elected as 
legitimate interlocutors.  The Irish Government, added Keown, 
believed that the emergence of the new Palestinian leadership 
would present an opportunity for closer U.S.-EU cooperation 
on the peace process. 
 
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Colombia 
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4.  (C) Keown said that the EU agreed with the USG on the 
importance of strengthening support for the Colombian 
Government.  The EU also welcomed U.S. proposals for 
increased cooperation through the G-24 mechanism. 
 
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The Great Lakes 
--------------- 
 
5.  (C) The EU supported the November 20 Dar es Salaam 
Declaration on the framework for resolving tensions in the 
Great Lakes region, said Keown.  He noted that the December 
13 GAERC would adopt a statement urging restraint on all 
parties in the interests of regional stability.  Keown 
highlighted the EU's concern that Rwanda might take 
unilateral action damaging the peace framework, as suggested 
in recent Rwandan Government statements that reserved 
Rwanda's right to defend itself against cross-border attacks. 
 
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The Code of Conduct 
------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Keown observed that the Code of Conduct was still a 
"work in progress" and would not be ready for discussion at 
the December 13 GAERC.  He also pointed out that the EU-China 
Summit statement had been careful not to draw explicit 
connections between progress on human rights and steps to 
lift the arms embargo.  The EU, said Keown, viewed its 
ongoing, structured human rights dialogue with China as the 
most appropriate avenue to press the Chinese Government on 
human rights concerns. 
 
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Croatia 
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7.  (C) Ireland generally opposed placing conditions, 
specifically the apprehension of Ante Gotovina, on the start 
of Croatia' accession negotiations, commented Keown.  The 
Irish Government believed that negotiations offered the best 
context in which to encourage Croatia to fulfill its 
commitments to the International Criminal Tribunal for the 
Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including Gotovina's capture and 
delivery to The Hague.  Keown added that the negotiations 
would include safeguard measures to prevent possible Croatian 
backsliding on those commitments.  He pointed out the Irish 
Government's view that Chief Prosecutor del Ponte had sent 
confusing signals this past year on the extent of Croatia's 
cooperation with the ICTY.  He added that the Irish 
Government looked forward to a full hearing at the December 
17 EU Council meeting for those Member States that supported 
conditionalities on the commencement of Croatia's accession 
negotiations.  Keown emphasized that Ireland saw no linkage 
between Turkey and Croatia.  (This position on linkage 
contrasted somewhat with DFA comments in ref B that it would 
be unusual to place conditions on Croatia while taking an 
unconditional decision on Turkey's accession negotiations.) 
 
8.  (C) On December 10, Post spoke with Michael Gaffey, DFA 
Counsellor for Southeastern Europe.  Gaffey said the Irish 
intended to maintain a position that was consistent with the 
June Council decision, which, he believed, had "clearly" 
called for the start of negotiations with Croatia.  Ireland 
was willing to reiterate that position at the December 13 
GAERC, but did not see itself as a champion for Croatia, 
certainly not to the extent that Germany or Austria might be. 
 Gaffey said the impression that Ireland had been vociferous 
on Croatia's behalf at the December 9 COREPER perhaps derived 
from the fact that Ireland had repeated its position in a 
discussion to which not many Member State represenatives had 
contributed.  "We're not going to be the last man in the 
ditch on this issue," observed Gaffey.  He expressed doubt 
that there would be serious discussion on the Croatia issue 
at the GAERC, since Member State positions were already well 
known.  He added that Ireland's principal objective since its 
presidency had been to avoid the scenario now emerging where 
Member States would have to consider simultaneously the start 
of accession negotiations for both Turkey and Croatia, given 
the possibility of temptations for Member States to establish 
linkage. 
KENNY