PORTUGAL: JUNE 12 GAERC READOUT

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