PORTUGAL ON GAERC ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 002562

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM YI SR BK IS LE IR RS UZ CU
PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON GAERC ISSUES

REF: STATE 183545

Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: In advance of the GAERC, Portuguese
interlocutors provided a brief on the relevant issues.
Amongst other issues, Portugal believes that Kosovo should
not have an army, Israel needs to cooperate with the Rafah
crossing project, EU support for the Lebanese Armed Forces is
mired in a number of problems, and Portugal supports
continued sanctions on Uzbekistan. End summary.


2. (U) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Deputy Director for
the Common Foreign and Security Policy Ana Filomena Rocha
provided a review of the MFA,s preparations for the reftel
November 13-14 European Union (EU) General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) in a November 9 discussion.


3. (C) Western Balkans: Rocha agreed on the need for unity
between the U.S. and the EU. She noted that Ahtisaari
intends to submit his report on Kosovo status by the end of
the year. She commented that Serbian elections would only
delay this by no more than a month; otherwise Ahtisaari would
release his report anyway. She noted that Portugal agrees on
the need for an independent Kosovo, but cautioned that the
establishment of institutions such as an army should be
negotiated over a long period of time. Rocha noted that
Bosnia was not on the GAERC agenda.


4. (U) Russia: Rocha said that Portugal agreed on the
importance of human rights issues regarding relations with
Russia. She noted that energy, however, was not on the GAERC
agenda.


5. (C) Israeli-Palestinian Issues: Rocha stated that no
solution to these tensions can be achieved without
Palestinian Authority recognition of Israel. Regarding
specific assistance, Rocha noted the difficulties the EU had
regarding support for the Rafah crossing, which remains
essentially closed. She noted that Israel had been
particularly difficult on this issue, presenting a list of
demands to the EU on issues over which the EU had no control,
including release of the captive Israeli soldier. Rocha
noted that Portugal would only support the Karni Plan if
Rafah was working well, the idea being to duplicate a
successful project.


6. (C) Lebanon: Rocha stated that Portugal shares the U.S.
concerns regarding efforts to weaken or topple Siniora.
Rocha noted that the EU will discuss a project with the
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),but that some states )
including Portugal ) are concerned about pushing Syria too
hard. Additionally, Rocha opined that the other two EU
operations in the area are not going well and Portugal has no
intention of copying a failing model. Rocha also commented
that EU states are concerned about budget and troop
contributions. Rocha said EU states are worried about a
repeat of Darfur, where grand statements were not followed by
tangible support.


7. (C) Iran: Rocha said that neither the nuclear portfolio
nor any potential sanctions regime was on the agenda for
discussion at the GAERC, although human rights would be
discussed. Portugal will maintain its support for Iran,s
civil society, but will channel all aid through the United
Nations, to avoid bringing state persecution to groups that
receive aid or contact from a western state. Rocha noted
that Portugal had deep contacts with Iran on social and
humanitarian issues that had been severed by Ahmadinejad.
The MFA, Rocha noted, had been planning ceremonial events
with Iran to commemorate the 500th anniversary of relations
between the two societies, but that their primary point of
contact in Tehran had been suddenly replaced by a less
interested functionary. Rocha noted that lately contact from
Tehran on any issue included mention of increased trading
relations.


8. (C) Uzbekistan: Rocha noted that the EU Troika had a
meeting November 9 with a delegation from Uzbekistan to
discuss the status of human rights and the consequent effect
on Uzbekistan,s relationship with the EU. Discussions at
the GAERC, Rocha opined, would follow the tone of the
November 9 meeting, particularly in the discussion to prolong
EU sanctions. Rocha noted that Germany wanted to lift the
sanctions entirely, but that most other states oppose such
action. Rocha opined that Germany hoped to achieve an accord
with all of the former Soviet states in Asia during its EU
Presidency, a task complicated by sanctions on one of them.
Portugal, Rocha stated, favored prolonging the sanctions by
one year, but lifting restrictions on technical cooperation
projects both to maintain contact and to recognize positive
steps by Uzbekistan.

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9. (U) Cuba: Rocha said Cuba was not on the agenda.
Hoffman