PORTUGAL: NOT READY TO PRESS ON SOUTH OSSETIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000933

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2016
TAGS: PBTS PREL OSCE PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: NOT READY TO PRESS ON SOUTH OSSETIA

REF: SECSTATE 80908

Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On May 22, Polecon Off delivered reftel demarche to
MFA Russian Affairs Officer Ana Paula Moriera. While she
acknowledged that Russia had been practicing a creeping
influence policy, Moriera said the EU and OSCE messages
urging restraint were probably sufficient given the

sensitivities of the issue. She noted that the situation was
a delicate balance between the Georgian government and South
Ossetians and argued that any NATO collective or individual
member action to restrain Russia would only destabilize that
balance.


2. (C) Moriera stated that she personally doubted Portugal
would be interested in pressing Russia at this time. While
she recognized Russia's positive influence on
Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, she stressed that the issues,
and therefore Russia's response, was significantly different
vis--vis South Ossetia. She mentioned that Russia was
likely to continue its efforts to control the area through
economic deals even if forced out politically. According to
Moriera, the EU does not anticipate raising South Ossetia at
the upcoming EU-Russia meeting, in part because EU members
want to avoid pressing Russia on this undefined issue.


3. (C) Finally, Moriera underscored the need to focus
development efforts in South Ossetia as a means of diffusing
tensions. She hoped Russia would continue to participate in
development efforts, but do so in a broader international
development effort. Russia needs to be a more reliable
international partner that will match its stated policy with
transparent action, according to Moriera.
O'Neal