US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN1416

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001416 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: ETRD, IZ, KPAL, PREL, SY, UP, YI, EI, EUN 
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE: IRELAND NEARING EU 
BATTLEGROUPS DECISION 
 
REF: A. STATE 208899 
 
     B. DUBLIN 1360 
 
Classified By: Political-Economic Counselor Mary E. Daly; Reasons 1.4 ( 
B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: On November 17, Post delivered ref A 
demarche to Jim Kelly, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) EU 
Correspondent, who underscored that Irish talking points had 
not changed substantively from Post's November 3 demarche 
(ref B).  Kelly noted that defense-related discussions would 
focus on the GAERC's approval for a code of conduct on 
defense procurement.  While the GAERC would not address the 
EU battlegroups proposal, Kelly observed that Ireland was 
preparing to decide by Christmas whether to participate in 
the initiative.  He cited the EU's readiness to support the 
implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on 
Movement and Access.  He added that he was unaware, however, 
of any Irish movement on the possibility of contributing 
personnel for Palestinian police training.  Regarding Bosnia, 
he expected that the GAERC would address the manner in which 
the role of High Representative might evolve after the expiry 
of Ashdown's term in February.  Kelly also noted that the 
GAERC would not discuss Iraq, the Ukraine, or Syria in 
detail.  End summary. 
 
Defense Issues 
-------------- 
 
2.  (C) The November 21-22 GAERC's defense-related 
discussions will focus on technical/pragmatic cooperation, 
principally the Ministers' approval for a code of conduct on 
defense procurement, said Kelly.  He observed that Irish 
Defense Minister Willie O'Dea would attend and that the 
discussions would also feature a report from High 
Representative Solana on the EDA.  Kelly pointed out that the 
GAERC would not address the EU battlegroups proposal, but he 
noted that the Irish Attorney General's office had recently 
forwarded opinions to the Minister O'Dea on the legislative 
changes necessary to enable Ireland to participate in the 
initiative.  (Ireland espouses a "triple-lock" approach to 
overseas military deployments, whereby military action 
requires a UN mandate and authorization from both the Irish 
Parliament and GOI Administration.)  Minister O'Dea is 
expected to discuss these legislative changes with the GOI 
Cabinet in early December, making possible a decision by 
Christmas on participation in the battlegroups. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
3.  (C) Discussion on Iraq will not be detailed, remarked 
Kelly.  The GAERC conclusions, he added, would likely 
reaffirm the EU's support for reconstruction.  Ministers will 
also offer preliminary opinions on the nature of EU 
engagement with the Iraqi Government to be established after 
the December elections. 
 
MEPP 
---- 
 
4.  (C) Kelly praised Secretary Rice's leadership in 
brokering the Israeli-Palestinian Agreement on Movement and 
Access, and he stated that the EU was ready to fulfill its 
role in implementing the agreement, including through 
financial contributions.  Kelly pointed out that EU support 
for Gaza reconstruction would be a central discussion item at 
the GAERC meeting.  He also said that he was unaware of any 
Irish movement on the possibility of contributing personnel 
for Palestinian police training.  (Post has heard from Irish 
Department of Justice sources that Ireland has been 
considering this option.) 
 
Ukraine 
------- 
 
5.  (C) The Ukraine is not scheduled as a GAERC agenda item, 
said Kelly.  He expected that Ministers would speak with 
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on the margins regarding 
preparatory points for the December 1 Ukraine-EU Summit. 
Kelly added that Ireland strongly supported U.S.-EU 
coordination with Ukraine on approaches to Belarus. 
 
Bosnia 
------ 
 
6.  (C) Bosnia will be the marquis discussion item at the 
GAERC meeting, with Washington's 10th anniversary 
commemoration of the Dayton agreement likewise occurring on 
November 21-22, commented Kelly.  Ministers will focus on 
approval for the Commission's decision to open Stabilization 
and Association Agreement negotiations with Bosnia and 
Hercegovina.  The GAERC will also address the manner in which 
the role of High Representative might evolve after the expiry 
of Ashdown's term in February.  Kelly did not expect that the 
GAERC would deliberate on a possible successor for High 
Representative Ashdown, and he noted that Ireland did not 
have a favored candidate.  He added that the December GAERC 
would take up the succession question in more detail. 
 
SYRIA 
----- 
 
7.  (C) Kelly stated that Syria would not be discussed in 
detail at the GAERC, though he underscored Irish support for 
full implementation of Syria-related UNSC resolutions.  He 
mentioned that Ireland's Deputy Police Commissioner, Peter 
Fitzgerald, who led the initial UN fact-finding team on the 
Hariri assassination, was no longer involved in UN 
investigation efforts. 
 
WTO 
--- 
 
8.  (C) As with ref B demarche, Kelly deferred to the 
Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of 
Enterprise, Trade, and Employment for the official Irish 
position on the Doha negotiations.  (As noted in earlier 
reporting, Ireland is among those Member States that are 
unwilling to consider further EU agricultural concessions 
ahead of the Hong Kong Ministerial.)  Kelly ventured only 
that EU expectations for Hong Kong appeared to have been 
scaled back following WTO ministerial discussions in Geneva 
the week of November 7. 
KENNY