PORTUGUESE VIEWS ON APRIL 23-24 FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001085

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: IS IR AF KPAL ETRD PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWS ON APRIL 23-24 FOREIGN MINISTERS
MEETING (GAERC)

REF: A. SECSTATE 51262


B. SECSTATE 52623

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


1. (U) Pol-Econ officer spoke with Deputy EU Correspondent
Ana Filomena Rocha about the U.S. policy views on the
Balkans, Middle East, Africa, Cuba, and trade as requested
reftels a and b. Rocha replied as follows:


2. (C) CUBA: The EU common position on Cuba will be marginal
for the foreign ministers at the GAERC, according to Rocha.
She described significant differences in opinion between EU
members with several calling for a paragraph criticizing
Cuba's political oppression. Other member states oppose the
critical paragraph and claim that censuring Cuba would only
be as a result of US pressure since other Latin American
nations also have problematic policies. Portugal is
attempting to distance itself from the debate in preparation
for the EU Presidency term in July. At the same time, the EU
position is unlikely to change in the near future, so
Portugal is attempting to remain balanced during these
discussions to avoid alienating either side in the deeply
divided group. Rocha's advice was that we stay out of the
debate so that it does not appear that those in favor of
critical language are serving as proxies for the US position.


3. (C) CENTRAL ASIA: Although the new EU engagement strategy
is one of the crowning glories of the German presidency,
according to Rocha, it is neither well-defined nor clear.
She claimed that the strategy lacks specifics and
institutional structure to be successful. Regarding the
second human rights dialogue with Uzbekistan, Rocha dismissed
the discussion as little more than a rehash of previous
discussions.


4. (U) MIDDLE EAST: Portugal sees this as a window of
opportunity and hopes that the new coalition government will
move forward with concrete steps in keeping with the
Quartet's principles.


5. (U) LEBANON: Portugal is quite worried about the fragile
government position in Lebanon, especially in light of
Portugal's upcoming presidency. Portuguese Foreign Minister
Luis Amado traveled to Lebanon last summer and took an active
role in pressing for an EU dialogue during the war, but does
not have real ties or a history of involvement.


6. (C) ZIMBABWE: Rocha detailed Portugal's ongoing concern
regarding the human rights crisis in Zimbabwe. While the EU
is ready to assist, she noted that reform must begin
internally before the international community will be able to
act. In particular, she lamented Mugabe's recent statements
that EU sanctions have caused Zimbabwe's economic crisis.
Rocha stressed that Portugal will press the EU to vigorously
deny those accusations and redirect the blame where it
belongs -- back on Mugabe. Rocha noted that the UK had
proposed adding new names to the EU sanctions list, which
Portugal believes would increase tension without resolving
any problems.
Hoffman