Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LISBON1110
2006-06-09 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PORTUGAL: JUNE 12 GAERC READOUT

Tags:  PREL EUN KPAL UN YI MW SR BO IR PO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHLI #1110 1601522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 091522Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4850
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0181
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0105
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001110 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: PREL EUN KPAL UN YI MW SR BO IR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: JUNE 12 GAERC READOUT

REF: STATE 91167

Classified By: P/E Officer Rhonda Ferguson-Augustus for reasons 1.4 (b/
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001110

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2016
TAGS: PREL EUN KPAL UN YI MW SR BO IR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: JUNE 12 GAERC READOUT

REF: STATE 91167

Classified By: P/E Officer Rhonda Ferguson-Augustus for reasons 1.4 (b/
d).


1. (C) P/E officer delivered reftel demarche June 8 to MFA
Deputy European Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha. Rocha
observed that Kosovo would not be on the agenda and proceeded
to address the following reftel points:

Balkans
--------------
2, (C) Montenegro: The Montenegrin Parliament's declaration
of succession was followed up with a letter from Prime
Minister Milo Djukanovic to the EU. The EU is urging a
harmonious transition process between Montenegro and Serbia.
Rocha said that Portugal hoped that Serbia would be the first
country to recognize Montenegro, so as to send the message of
its acceptance of Montenegrin independence and its commitment
to working constructively with it in the future.


3. (C) Serbia and ICTY: The EU has suspended negotiations
with Serbia on the Stabilization and Association talks. At
this point, the EU is unsure how the new Montenegrin
independence will impact Serbian actions, and is concerned
with its diminishing influence with Serbia. Rocha cautioned
that Serbia couldn't be pushed too hard; at the same time, it
would be counterproductive to leave the country behind in
accession talks. However, she emphasized, the EU cannot
compromise on ICTY compliance and will continue to seek
Serbia's deliverance of Ratko Mladic and other war criminals
to the Hague.

Iraq
--------------

4. (C) Rocha said the EU and Portugal were heartened by
recent Iraqi appointments of ministers of Defense and
Interior and thought that the government was starting to gain
momentum. On an upbeat note, she informed P/E officer that a
contingent of Iraqi police and magistrates had arrived June 5
to begin training in Portugal. Rocha was unaware of any
planned visits to Iraq by members of the GOP.

Cuba
--------------

5. (C) Rocha said that the EU was in the process of
reevaluating their Cuba policy, taking into account those who
prefer more engagement with the Cuban government -- an
approach favored by Portugal -- and the faction led by the
Czech Republic and Poland which prefers to focus on increased
support for Cuban dissents. Recalling that one of the EU
pillars was dialog, Rocha opined that the EU Cuba policy
should embrace a dialog with the Castro government, given the
negative impact of the 'freezing' of relations last year.
Dismissing the Czech proposal as one of trying to make their
bilateral problem into a multilateral one, Rocha demurred
when asked about including in the EU policy timelines and
benchmarks related to support for the Cuban opposition.

Palestinian Assistance
--------------

6. (C) The EU is moving to establish a temporary mechanism
for assistance delivery to the Palestinian people. Rocha
expressed concern that the humanitarian needs of the
Palestinian people be met, including addressing the issue of
subsidizing salaries.
Hoffman