US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN207

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL 
SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE TO PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 25111 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jonathan Benton; Reasons 1.4 (B) and ( 
D). 
 
1.  (U) On February 15, Post delivered reftel talking points 
to Gerard Keown, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU 
Correspondent. 
 
Trans-Atlantic Relations 
------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) The European Union strongly supports practical 
cooperation with the United States across the full spectrum 
of trans-Atlantic and global issues, an approach that Ireland 
had advocated during its EU presidency in 2004, said Keown. 
The EU thus looked forward to President Bush's visit, 
especially as this would be his first post-inaugural overseas 
trip -- a gesture that Ireland expected would be repaid, 
Keown observed.  He commented that Secretary Rice's speeches 
had been well received in European capitals, particularly in 
Paris, and he added that EU foreign ministers looked forward 
to another opportunity to meet with her during President 
Bush's visit. 
 
MEPP 
---- 
 
3.  (SBU) Keown characterized the MEPP as a tremendous 
opportunity for successful trans-Atlantic cooperation.  A 
"win" on the MEPP would help to advance the reform agenda 
throughout the region and diminish a primary source of Arab 
grievances.  Keown said that the March 1 London meeting would 
dovetail with overall EU support for the Palestinian 
community on security, infrastructure, administration, and 
finance.  He noted that the London meeting had been planned 
before the Sharm el-Sheik summit, and he expressed hope that 
the cease-fire announcement would induce Israel to 
participate. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
4.  (SBU) With the successful outcome of the Iraqi elections, 
Ireland and the EU looked forward to the process of formal 
appointments by the Assembly, observed Keown.  He expressed 
disappointment with the level of Sunni participation in the 
polls, but hoped that this would not diminish the Assembly's 
legitimacy or pose difficulties for the process of writing a 
new constitution.  Keown noted that the Member States had 
been holding off on a decision regarding assistance for Iraqi 
police training until the elections had been held.  He 
expected that any such assistance would extend beyond police 
training to encompass rule of law.  He recalled that the EU 
had previously stated its intention to establish a presence 
in Iraq, and he cited security-related concerns as the 
remaining impediment to an EU office in Baghdad. 
 
The Western Balkans 
------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Keown made the following points on the Western 
Balkans: 
 
-- Ireland and the EU would agree that the surrender of 
General Lazarevic was a positive development, but not enough 
to warrant further progress toward a feasibility study for 
Serbia and Montenegro.  The GOSM needed to do more to 
demonstrate cooperation with the ICTY. 
 
-- The EU wants to play a full role in the movement toward a 
mid-term review for Kosovo.  The prospect of Prime Minister 
Haradinaj's indictment and voluntary surrender to the Hague 
creates serious questions about the possibility of a 
short-term political vacuum in Kosovo.  Keown concurred that 
the promise of Euro-Atlantic integration remained the 
greatest incentive for progress in Kosovo and throughout the 
region. 
 
-- It was clear that the start of EU accession talks for 
Croatia hinged on full cooperation with the ICTY, which would 
be judged in the context of the Gotovina case.  Keown related 
Ireland's view that the "ball was now in Croatia's court" in 
terms of demonstrating cooperation. 
 
-- Regarding Bosnia, High Commissioner Paddy Ashdown had the 
full support of the Member States for his actions to hold the 
Republika Srpska accountable for its continued 
non-cooperation with the ICTY.  Keown believed that Ashdown 
would review the state of play in the RS in late February 
before considering other measures to encourage cooperation, 
to include possibly the removal of more local officials. 
 
Ukraine/Moldova 
--------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) The planned February 21 EU-Ukraine Cooperation 
Council meeting will be the first to involve newly elected 
Ukrainian President Yushchenko, and the EU looked forward 
enthusiastically to this opportunity to deepen ties with the 
GOU, said Keown.  In particular, Member States hoped that 
Ukraine would be able to lend a hand in resolving the 
Moldova-Transnistria conflict, given shared borders with 
Romania.  Keown noted that Transnistria was increasingly 
occupying the energies of Member State foreign ministers. 
 
Sudan 
----- 
 
7.  (C) The EU's position on bringing crimes committed in 
Darfur to the ICC was well-known, and Ireland concurred with 
that position, said Keown.  He remarked that the ICC had been 
created specifically to deal with such crimes.  He also noted 
that the Rwanda tribunal (ICTR) had not yet demonstrated its 
effectiveness, and he questioned whether the ICC was, in 
fact, preoccupied with other investigations.  The Member 
States would agree, however, that pressure must be maintained 
on the Sudanese government and rebels to end violence in 
Darfur, said Keown.  He added that EU assistance to the AU 
mission would continue. 
 
Great Lakes 
----------- 
 
8.  (SBU) Like the United States, the EU advocated unanimity 
on the Congolese transition and support for MONUC and the 
tripartite process, observed Keown.  He said that EU efforts 
in security sector reform aimed to create a security force 
that could function effectively while maintaining credibility 
with different communities.  He also conveyed Ireland's 
impression that Congo's transition government would not be 
ready to hold June elections as originally scheduled. 
Ireland and other Member States recognized, however, the 
importance of keeping the preparatory tasks related to the 
election on track. 
BENTON