US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1075

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001075 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, EUN 
SUBJECT: PRE-GYMNICH DEMARCHE: IRELAND SUPPORTS TURKEY 
 
REF: A. STATE 153187 
     B. DUBLIN 1023 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( 
B) and (D). 
 
1.  Summary: On August 29, Post delivered ref A talking 
points on the September 1-2 Gymnich Meeting to Jim Kelly, 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU correspondent (who 
replaced Gerard Keown on August 25).  Kelly conveyed 
Ireland's hope that EU accession talks for Turkey would begin 
as originally scheduled on October 3.  He observed that 
Ireland would not take a position on referring Iran to the 
UNSC until after the IAEA Board of Governors had discussed 
Director General ElBaradei's expected September 3 report.  He 
also pointed out that there had yet been no discussion within 
the EU on the proposal for a Commission contractor to manage 
the rubble removal process after the planned destruction of 
settlers' homes in Gaza.  Kelly noted that the Balkans, 
China, and Venezuela would not be Gymnich agenda items.  End 
summary. 
 
Turkey 
------ 
 
2.  (C) Ireland hopes that EU accession talks for Turkey, the 
main subject of the September 1-2 Gymnich Meeting, can begin 
as originally scheduled on October 3, said Kelly (reiterating 
the GOI's long-standing view, per ref B).  Ireland regarded 
the talks as a long-term process in which sensitive issues, 
such as Turkey's relations with Cyprus, could "be resolved 
along the way."  Kelly noted that the Gymnich discussions 
would focus on the Turkish Government's July 29 statement 
that its decision to sign the Protocol to the Ankara 
Agreement did not imply recognition of Cyprus.  Ireland 
expected a fuller airing of views from Member States that had 
reacted sharply to the statement, particularly France. 
 
The Middle East/Gaza 
-------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Ireland and Member States were pleased with the 
manner and speed of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, as 
conveyed by the August 25 EU statement, observed Kelly.  The 
Gymnich Meeting would feature Quartet Special Envoy Jim 
Wolfensohn's September 2 lunch briefing as the centerpiece of 
a stock-taking discussion on the withdrawal.  Kelly noted 
that there had yet been no discussion within the EU regarding 
the proposal for a Commission contractor, IMG, to manage the 
rubble removal process after the planned destruction of 
settlers' homes.  He anticipated that movement on the 
proposal, and any measures supporting disengagement, would 
entail an EU examination of the legal issues and funding 
requirements involved. 
 
Iran 
---- 
 
4.  (C) Ireland will not take a position on referring Iran to 
the UNSC until after the IAEA Board of Governors has 
discussed Director General ElBaradei's expected September 3 
report, observed Kelly.  Ireland saw the IAEA as the 
"critical forum" in which to address Iran's posture on the 
nuclear issue, including its breach of the Paris Agreement. 
The GOI did not wish to preempt the IAEA's deliberations. 
The GOI also supported the EU-3's continuing efforts to press 
Iran to resume suspension of uranium conversion and to 
negotiate on the basis of the EU-3's Framework Proposal. 
Kelly said that Gymnich discussions on Iran would be of the 
stock-taking variety, not a critical appraisal of the EU-3 
process. 
 
The Balkans 
----------- 
 
5.  (C) Kelly said that the DFA would take on board U.S. 
talking points regarding the Balkans, and he noted that the 
Gymnich Meeting would not discuss the region.  He noted that 
Ireland would await further discussions within the EU before 
taking a position on the timing of the future status process 
for Kosovo.  Ireland also recognized the importance of 
Croatia's full cooperation with ICTY and hoped that the 
process for Croatia's accession could move forward in that 
context. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
6.  (C) Ireland stood behind the EU's August 29 statement 
welcoming the publication of Iraq's constitution as an 
important milestone in the political process, remarked Kelly. 
 He added that Member States were looking forward to an 
update on Iraq's situation from British Foreign Minister Jack 
Straw at the Gymnich Meeting. 
China 
----- 
 
7.  (C) Kelly remarked that Ireland was familiar with U.S. 
views opposing the lifting of the EU arms embargo against 
China.  (Note: As previously reported, Ireland has declined 
to oppose the embargo's removal, a position that, we believe, 
reflects the GOI's efforts to strengthen relations with 
China, primarily trade/investment ties.)  Kelly pointed out 
that China was not an agenda item for the Gymnich Meeting, as 
the EU-China Summit was scheduled on September 5.  Although 
the embargo was not an agenda item for the Summit, Member 
States expected that the Chinese side would attempt to raise 
the subject during exchanges on economic ties and the 
environment, the Summit's main topics. 
Venezuela 
--------- 
8.  (C) Kelly said that the Latin America Group (within the 
EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Working Group) would 
meet in September to discuss possible EU support of observer 
efforts for Venezuela's December legislative elections.  He 
pointed out that Ireland's regional embassies were located in 
Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina and that the GOI's information 
on the situation in Venezuela was thus limited.  He added 
that, as with China and the Balkans, Venezuela would not be 
discussed at the Gymnich Meeting. 
KENNY