Cablegate: Secretary and Irish Fm Meeting

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TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EUN EI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY AND IRISH FM MEETING

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Classified By: Deputy Executive Virginia Bennett;
reasons 1.4 (b/d).

1. (U) October 11, 2009, Dublin, Ireland

2. (U) Participants

United States
The Secretary
Ambassador Daniel Rooney
A/S Philip Gordon
NSC Elisabeth Sherwood-Randall
DCOS Jake Sullivan
Spokesman Ian Kelly
Lt. Gen. Paul Selva

Ireland
Foreign Minister Michael Martin
David Cooney, Secretary General, Department of Foreign
Affairs
Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United
States
David Donoghue, Political Director, Department of
Foreign Affairs
Pat Hennessy, Director General, Anglo-Irish Division,
Department of Foreign Affairs
Sighle Doherty, Anglo-Irish Division, Department of
Foreign Affairs

3. (C) SUMMARY: Secretary Clinton discussed a wide
range of issues, including Afghanistan, U.S. visa
policy, and Irish acceptance of Guantanamo detainees in
an October 11 meeting with Ireland's Foreign Minister
Michael Martin. END SUMMARY.

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AFGHANISTAN: IRISH WANT TO HELP
--------------------------------

4. (C) Secretary Clinton highlighted the
Administration's Afghanistan review. Minister Martin
offered Ireland's help in promoting efforts in
Afghanistan and explained that Ireland has recently
hosted an Afghan parliamentary delegation at the
reconciliation center at Glencree. Ireland would be
delighted to host similar efforts in the future.

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VISAS AND IMMIGRATION
---------------------

5. (C) Secretary Clinton noted some form of an amnesty
program for those illegally in the United States would
be part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
Minister Martin confirmed that according to Irish
diaspora lobby groups there are currently 50,000
undocumented Irish in the United States. There did not
appear to be a new wave of illegal immigration to the
United States; Irish policy was committed to preventing
a new wave of illegal immigration by using certain visa
programs. He also understood that efforts in this
regard would likely be in the context of comprehensive
immigration reform rather than a bi-lateral agreement.
Martin praised the recent 12 month interim work and
travel program implemented in January 2008 by Ireland

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and the United States, and suggested it be reviewed
after one year. He also suggested that Ireland be added
to the E-3 visa program (currently available only to
Australians) with a reciprocal program for Americans to
work in Ireland.

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TAX CODE REFORM: IRELAND NOT A TAX HAVEN
----------------------------------------

6. (C) Minister Martin highlighted concern that
possible U.S. tax code reform could have a punitive
effect on U.S. companies based in Ireland, costing jobs.
Ireland is a low tax country, with a corporate tax rate
of 12.5 percent for both Irish and foreign companies,
not subject to change by the EU, but is not a tax haven,
Martin stressed. U.S. investment in Ireland had done
much more than create direct jobs; it had resulted in
the development of an enterprise culture in Ireland, he
added.

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DONOR COORDINATION
------------------

7. (C) Turning to donor coordination and food security
policy, Secretary Clinton stressed an integrated whole-
government approach to maximize effects and told Martin
that previous restrictions on funding to certain
organizations had been lifted, resulting in greater
flexibility and effectiveness. There have been great
successes in certain areas such as PEPFAR. However, in
order to make progress against HIV/AIDS, greater efforts
are needed to rationalize donor approaches -- both in
the U.S. government and in the wider donor community --
in order to avoid duplication and maximize outputs.
Minister Martin concurred and suggested that Ireland and
the U.S. co-host an event at a future UN Development
Goals Summit.

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KIDNAPPED AID WORKER IN DARFUR
------------------------------

8. (C) Minister Martin thanked the U.S. for supporting
efforts to recover Irish aid worker Sharon Commins who
was kidnapped by bandits in Darfur on July 3rd.
According to Martin, U.S. interlocutors in Sudan were
the most knowledgeable about the situation, and
Khartoum's apparent willingness but inability to secure
the kidnapped aid worker's release may show that
Khartoum is no longer in control of tribal groups in
Darfur.

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FORMER GUANTANAMO DETAINEES SETTLING IN WELL
--------------------------------------------

9. (C) Secretary Clinton praised the Irish acceptance
of two former Guantanamo detainees, and noted that Irish
policy of allowing family members to join them in
Ireland would likely have the positive effect of easing
the transition into Irish society.
CLINTON

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information India could, and it was up to Pakistan to
take it to its "logical conclusion."

11. (C) Krishna said he would meet September 27 with
Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi. He said that he
would again offer Indian assistance, because "terror
knows no boundaries." He repeated PM Singh's statement
that India is willing to go more than half way in the
"hope to take up from where we left" with respect to the
composite dialogue. The Secretary said that we consider
all Pakistan-based terror groups a threat to regional
and international security. She recounted that the
United States had been working with Pakistan to close
down terrorist operations. While we had seen some good
developments, she observed, we expect Pakistan to do
more. She said the Indian offer of cooperation and
assistance to Pakistan was an important gesture to make
clear that the two countries had a common cause.

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AFGHANISTAN
-----------

12. (C) Krishna said India had been providing
assistance at the invitation of Afghanistan. He averred
that India had no hidden agenda or vested interest in
the country and was only there to help rebuild
infrastructure. He queried why some countries would
think otherwise. The Secretary expressed appreciation
with India's assistance in Afghanistan and said the best
way to dispel allegations about India's possible role in
Baluchistan would be to address them directly with
Qureshi. Krishna said he would do so and expressed the
hope that it could be a "path-breaking" meeting.

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SRI LANKA
---------

13. (C) The Secretary sought Indian assistance to
persuade the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) to resettle
the internally displaced persons in Sri Lanka. Krishna
said India had had considerable interactions with the
GSL. While describing the IDP situation as a
humanitarian concern, he did not think the GSL could
meet the 180-day timeline to relocate the IDPs because
the monsoon would start soon. Moreover, demining the
areas to give people the confidence to return to their
homes would take time.

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IRAN
----

14. (C) Drawing his attention to the President's
statement earlier in the day regarding the disclosure of
a new Iranian nuclear facility, the Secretary told
Krishna that the United States still planned to attend
the October 1 meeting with Iran. She also welcomed
Russia's strong statement on the matter.
CLINTON

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