PORTUGAL ON THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

UNCLAS LISBON 002003 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV PHUM PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MINISTERIAL AT UNGA REF: SECSTATE 149622 THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 2. ¶1. (U) MFA International Organizations Officer Ana Coelho offered her perspective on the upcoming Community of Democracies (CD) Ministerial and discussed plans for Portugal's upcoming CD Presidency. In response to the reftel demarche, Coelho confirmed that Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado will attend the Ministerial. She added that Portugal hopes to see the CD task force establish a plan to create a permanent secretariat rather than continuing the current rotating presidency system. Although Portugal is engaged in planning its upcoming term, Coelho voiced doubts about the overall dedication that some other nations brought to the task and reiterated the misgivings that other EU members have about the CD overall. France, in particular, disapproved of the CD and urged Portugal to exercise caution while serving simultaneously as president of the EU and of the Community of Democracies. ¶2. (U) Coelho commented that Portugal contributed as a founding member of UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF) but had not received information on how that money had been distributed. She requested further information on who manages those funds and on how projects had been selected. ACTION REQUEST: Post requests the Department provide information about the working of the UNDEF for transmission to the GOP. END ACTION REQUEST. O'Neal