Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LISBON2616
2006-11-17 17:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL ON UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
how-toVZCZCXRO2556 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #2616 3211740 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171740Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5356 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002616
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
REF: SECSTATE 188244
Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002616
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
REF: SECSTATE 188244
Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: Portugal in particular, and the EU in
general, will seek to make the ESS resolution on Israeli
actions a more balanced text rather than oppose it directly.
Should the EU achieve its goal to amend the text, member
states will then try to achieve consensus on how to vote.
End summary.
2. (C) Portuguese Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director
for International Political Organizations, Helena Paiva, told
us that they agree that the reftel draft resolution is
unbalanced and unacceptable in its current form. The
Portuguese policy, however, is to work with the proponents of
the text to improve its balance and utility, such that the
European Union can achieve a consensus on whether to support
it. Such unity, Paiva noted, is a major goal in itself,
given that the Middle East is among the most difficult issues
for the EU on which to achieve consensus.
3. (C) Paiva told us that the Finnish delegation, acting
within the current EU presidency, was already negotiating
with proponents of the text. Paiva noted that specific
mention of the instigating rocket attacks and of the right to
self-defense were critical issues for Portugal and the EU.
Paiva commented that the final text will not be perfect, but
that the EU was searching for a reasonable and acceptable
text. Only upon achieving such a text would the EU states
enter into the second step to decide how they would vote.
4. (C) In regard to whether an Extraordinary Special Session
(ESS) should have been called at all, Paiva suggested that
the issue had been overtaken by events. The ESS had been
called, the Portuguese and other delegations were already
engaged, and the issue now was to achieve the best text
possible. Departing from the specific topic, Paiva opined
that the atmosphere at the United Nations had become far too
confrontational, which limited the body,s ability to achieve
progress on major issues.
Hoffman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION
REF: SECSTATE 188244
Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary: Portugal in particular, and the EU in
general, will seek to make the ESS resolution on Israeli
actions a more balanced text rather than oppose it directly.
Should the EU achieve its goal to amend the text, member
states will then try to achieve consensus on how to vote.
End summary.
2. (C) Portuguese Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director
for International Political Organizations, Helena Paiva, told
us that they agree that the reftel draft resolution is
unbalanced and unacceptable in its current form. The
Portuguese policy, however, is to work with the proponents of
the text to improve its balance and utility, such that the
European Union can achieve a consensus on whether to support
it. Such unity, Paiva noted, is a major goal in itself,
given that the Middle East is among the most difficult issues
for the EU on which to achieve consensus.
3. (C) Paiva told us that the Finnish delegation, acting
within the current EU presidency, was already negotiating
with proponents of the text. Paiva noted that specific
mention of the instigating rocket attacks and of the right to
self-defense were critical issues for Portugal and the EU.
Paiva commented that the final text will not be perfect, but
that the EU was searching for a reasonable and acceptable
text. Only upon achieving such a text would the EU states
enter into the second step to decide how they would vote.
4. (C) In regard to whether an Extraordinary Special Session
(ESS) should have been called at all, Paiva suggested that
the issue had been overtaken by events. The ESS had been
called, the Portuguese and other delegations were already
engaged, and the issue now was to achieve the best text
possible. Departing from the specific topic, Paiva opined
that the atmosphere at the United Nations had become far too
confrontational, which limited the body,s ability to achieve
progress on major issues.
Hoffman