PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON THE MAY 14-15 FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001297

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2017
TAGS: IS IR AF KPAL ETRD PREL
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON THE MAY 14-15 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 60948

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


1. (U) Portuguese Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha
responded to the reftel U.S. policy interests on the Balkans,
Middle East, Africa, Iran, and EU-Russia. She also shared
Portugal's views on the Italian initiative to introduce a
draft UN Resolution against the death penalty.


2. (C) BALKANS: Portugal is concerned that Russia may veto a
resolution to recognize Kosovo and thereby prompt Kosovo into
unilaterally declaring independence. If that happened, Rocha
speculated that the EU would not be able to reach a common
position on whether to recognize Kosovo. She added that a
unilateral declaration would set a dangerous precedent and
could prompt others to skip UN consultations and attempt a
unilateral solution.


3. (C) UZBEKISTAN: Rocha commented that Germany is pressing
forward in an attempt to ease sanctions against Uzbekistan
for its own economic gain. Portugal remains unconvinced that
Uzbekistan is making any serious moves to improve the human
rights situation and oppose lifting sanctions at this time.


4. (SBU) MIDDLE EAST: Portugal is reserving judgment on the
Arab League initiative to create a new forum to engage the
EU. In particular, Portugal would like to see an analysis of
current EU-Middle East consultation mechanisms before
contemplating a new process.


5. (C) SUDAN: Rocha noted that the Netherlands had added
Sudan to the agenda but stated that it was unclear what
exactly they wanted to discuss. She expressed frustration
over the current impasse with Bashir and stressed that
pressure has not been productive. Rocha reported that the EU
will likely continue to fund assistance projects through the
end of 2007 despite Bashir's resistance to implementing the
hybrid force.


6. (C) SOMALIA: Rocha rated Germany's efforts to respond to
the crisis in Somalia as "lackluster." In spite of EU calls
for an all inclusive dialogue and general respect for human
rights, Somalia is not moving in the right direction,
according to Rocha. She hopes that the EU would begin to use
its leverage as a donor bloc to press for advances soon.


7. (C) RUSSIA-EU: After noting that Portugal is fairly
neutral on Russian issues, Rocha stressed that Estonia and
select other members were attempting to hold the EU
relationship with Russia hostage to nationalistic grudges.
She underscored that Russia is of strategic importance to the
entire EU and that the Eastern European nations that were
slowing the dialogue were ultimately risking damage to their
own reputation by letting national antipathy overshadow the
Union's needs.


8. (C) DEATH PENALTY: While it was not mentioned in the
demarche, Rocha raised Portugal's preoccupation regarding the
Italian initiative on an EU-sponsored resolution against the
death penalty. Portugal's main concern is that the measure
does not have wide-spread interest and could spark
controversy among partner nations, especially the United
States. She stated frankly, "This is not a good time for the
EU to introduce a measure that will start out controversial
and end up defeated."


9. (C) Comment: Portugal has begun to focus on issues that
will continue into its presidency. As a result, it is
attempting to press through as many controversial measures as
possible so it can address Portugal's key agenda issues from
day one. End comment.
Hoffman