PORTUGAL'S POLICIES IN ADVANCE OF THE DECEMBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 2769

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PRM PGOV PHUM PREL PO CH EUN YI SR BK IS
LEIR, TU, AFIN, KPAL
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S POLICIES IN ADVANCE OF THE DECEMBER
GAERC

REF: A. SESTATE 195044


B. SECSTATE 194456

C. LSBON 2719

D. LISBON 2736

Classified By: ep Pol/Econ Counselor Cari Enav for Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Deputy
Director for
the Common Foreign and Security Policy Ana Filomena Rocha
provided a review of MFA's preparations for the reftel
December 11-12 European Union (EU) General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) in a December 7
discussion. On China, Portugal does not support any linkage
between lifting the arms embargo and approving a legally
binding instrument and predicts a stalemate on this issue at
the meeting. Portugal will continue to be the voice of
moderation in EU-Turkey Accession talks and maintains its
position of strict conditionality with regard to Serbia's
accession talks. Spain's proposal for an International Middle
East Conference would be discussed at the Dec 14-15 European
Council meeting, not at the GAERC, according to Filamena
Rocha. FM Amado has already stated that the Road Map should
be the central framework for any peace agreement. At the
GAERC, Javier Solana is expected to call on
Israeli/Palestinian neighbors to play a greater role in the
peace process and suggest that moderate Arab states
participate in the next Quartet meeting. Portugal does not
support the European Security and Defense Policy Initiative
to work with the Lebanese Armed Forces, (preferring UN
initiatives) nor does it support the initiative to train the
Afghani Police Force. Portugal is concerned about
developments in Iran and believes it is time to implement
sanctions.

CHINA


2. (C) Filamena Rocha said that France is leading the call to
lift the arms embargo and is threatening to block the
approval of a legally binding instrument on arms export
control if the embargo were not lifted. Portugal does not
support any linkage between the two and predicts a stalemate
- with neither the arms embargo being lifted nor the legally
binding instrument being approved. She was non-committal
with regard to Portugal's position on lifting the arms
embargo, noting that Portugal did not have a particular
interest in the issue.

TURKEY EU ACCESSION:


3. (SBU) Portugal will continue to be a voice of moderation
during the current debate on Turkey's Accession to the EU and
reaffirmed Portugal's support for Turkey's EU membership (ref
c).

WESTERN BALKANS:


4. (C) Filomena Rocha commented that the EU was divided on
Serbia's integration into the EU. Portugal belonged to the
camp that wanted to maintain strict conditionality - that is,
full ICTY cooperation and the handover of Mladic before
resuming accession talks. She noted that former
Austro-Hungarian member states preferred a softer approach,
enticing Serbia with a carrot rather than a stick.


5. (U) Kosovo and Bosnia are not on the December 11 agenda.
The EU plans to wait until after Serbia's January 21
elections to discuss the situation in Kosovo further.

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES:


6. (C) Filomena Rocha said that Spain's call for an
International Middle East Conference would be taken up at the
Dec 14-15 European Council, not at the GAERC. In a separate
early December meeting, MFA Director for Middle Eastern
Affairs Isabel Pedrosa told post that Portugal remained
committed to the Roadmap as the central framework for any
peace settlement, yet believed ways must be found to
reenergize its implementation(ref D). At the GAERC, Filamena
Rocha expected Javier Solana to call on the conflict's
neighboring states to play a greater role in finding a
lasting solution. He would likely underscore the need for
greater financial and political commitments on their part.