Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON1387
2007-05-18 17:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
FM AMADO TO ATTEND RAMOS-HORTA INAUGURATION IN DILI
how-toVZCZCXRO0024 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHLI #1387 1381718 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181718Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5884 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0541 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0379 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0042 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0143 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1470
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001387
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL PO TL
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND RAMOS-HORTA INAUGURATION IN DILI
Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary:
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001387
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL PO TL
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND RAMOS-HORTA INAUGURATION IN DILI
Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary:
1. (C) FM Luis Amado will travel to Dili to attend the
inauguration of President-elect Jose Ramos Horta on May 20.
The Timorese have relied on the Portuguese Embassy there to
provide protocolary guidance for this low-key event. No
formal invitation was extended, but Amado decided to make the
trip now because no Portuguese representative will be able to
attend the larger August 30 celebration (Anniversary of the
Popular Consultation). The MFA was reluctant to predict the
outcome of the June 30 legislative elections, but noted that
there would be challenges whether Fretilin or the CDRT won.
Amado will also be meeting with UN Special Representative
Atul Khare (who will be traveling to Lisbon next week) and
Alkatiri. He will encourage all parties to maintain political
stability and to focus on security, development and refugees.
2. (C) Despite a very hectic travel schedule, FM Luis Amado
will travel to Dili to attend the inauguration of
President-elect Jose Ramos Horta on May 20. No formal
invitation was extended for this low-key event, but Amado
decided to make the trip now because Portugal wanted to
demonstrate its support for the new government and no
Portuguese representative will be able to attend the larger
August 30 celebration (Anniversary of the Popular
Consultation). Other foreign dignitaries in attendance will
include a representative of the Indonesian President and
possibly an official from Australia, according to the MFA
Diplomatic Advisor for Asian and African Affairs Carolina
Cordeiro. In his scheduled meetings with Jose Ramos-Horta,
Mari Alkatiri, and UN Special Representative Atul Khare (who
will be traveling to Lisbon next week),Amado will underscore
the importance of political stability and the need to focus
on security, development, and refugees once parliamentary
elections are over.
3. (C) Cordeiro noted Portugal had not favored a particular
candidate and that the Portuguese government was pleased with
how well the second round of elections were conducted (she
herself was surprised at how smoothly things went),
especially given the several complaints regarding the less
than optimal organization of the first round. She quickly
added that none of the reported irregularities would have
affected the ultimate outcome of the elections.
4. (C) Looking to the June 30 parliamentary elections,
Cordeiro said that she could not predict which party )
Fretilin, CDRT or some combination of opposition parties )
would win, but that the country would face political
challenges regardless. The deep-seated animosity between
Ramos-Horta and Alkatiri would make it difficult for the two
to work together if Fretilin won, and there could be balance
of power issues unhelpful to democratic consolidation should
Fretilin lose.
5. (C) With regard to Portugal,s current contribution of
288 paramilitary officers to UNMIT, Cordeiro noted that the
government was committed to remaining in East Timor until
September 2007 and would reevaluate deployment at that time.
6. (C) Comment: East Timor remains a foreign relations
priority for Portugal. The fact that FM Amado is willing to
make the arduously long trip from Lisbon to Dili on the heels
of a trip to Belgrade and just before a visit to Moscow is a
reflection of the government,s support for the Timorese,
regardless of those in power. The Timorese request for
protocolary guidance on such issues as the order of vehicles,
who should deliver remarks first, and where guests should be
seated speaks volumes on the close bilateral ties. Cordeiro
added that while Portugal recognizes that East Timor falls
under Southeast Asia,s sphere of influence and that
Australia is geographically closer and plays a more
predominant role there, Portugal,s fondness for its former
colony remains strong as does its desire to help establish a
functioning democracy there.
O'Neal
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL PO TL
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND RAMOS-HORTA INAUGURATION IN DILI
Classified By: Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary:
1. (C) FM Luis Amado will travel to Dili to attend the
inauguration of President-elect Jose Ramos Horta on May 20.
The Timorese have relied on the Portuguese Embassy there to
provide protocolary guidance for this low-key event. No
formal invitation was extended, but Amado decided to make the
trip now because no Portuguese representative will be able to
attend the larger August 30 celebration (Anniversary of the
Popular Consultation). The MFA was reluctant to predict the
outcome of the June 30 legislative elections, but noted that
there would be challenges whether Fretilin or the CDRT won.
Amado will also be meeting with UN Special Representative
Atul Khare (who will be traveling to Lisbon next week) and
Alkatiri. He will encourage all parties to maintain political
stability and to focus on security, development and refugees.
2. (C) Despite a very hectic travel schedule, FM Luis Amado
will travel to Dili to attend the inauguration of
President-elect Jose Ramos Horta on May 20. No formal
invitation was extended for this low-key event, but Amado
decided to make the trip now because Portugal wanted to
demonstrate its support for the new government and no
Portuguese representative will be able to attend the larger
August 30 celebration (Anniversary of the Popular
Consultation). Other foreign dignitaries in attendance will
include a representative of the Indonesian President and
possibly an official from Australia, according to the MFA
Diplomatic Advisor for Asian and African Affairs Carolina
Cordeiro. In his scheduled meetings with Jose Ramos-Horta,
Mari Alkatiri, and UN Special Representative Atul Khare (who
will be traveling to Lisbon next week),Amado will underscore
the importance of political stability and the need to focus
on security, development, and refugees once parliamentary
elections are over.
3. (C) Cordeiro noted Portugal had not favored a particular
candidate and that the Portuguese government was pleased with
how well the second round of elections were conducted (she
herself was surprised at how smoothly things went),
especially given the several complaints regarding the less
than optimal organization of the first round. She quickly
added that none of the reported irregularities would have
affected the ultimate outcome of the elections.
4. (C) Looking to the June 30 parliamentary elections,
Cordeiro said that she could not predict which party )
Fretilin, CDRT or some combination of opposition parties )
would win, but that the country would face political
challenges regardless. The deep-seated animosity between
Ramos-Horta and Alkatiri would make it difficult for the two
to work together if Fretilin won, and there could be balance
of power issues unhelpful to democratic consolidation should
Fretilin lose.
5. (C) With regard to Portugal,s current contribution of
288 paramilitary officers to UNMIT, Cordeiro noted that the
government was committed to remaining in East Timor until
September 2007 and would reevaluate deployment at that time.
6. (C) Comment: East Timor remains a foreign relations
priority for Portugal. The fact that FM Amado is willing to
make the arduously long trip from Lisbon to Dili on the heels
of a trip to Belgrade and just before a visit to Moscow is a
reflection of the government,s support for the Timorese,
regardless of those in power. The Timorese request for
protocolary guidance on such issues as the order of vehicles,
who should deliver remarks first, and where guests should be
seated speaks volumes on the close bilateral ties. Cordeiro
added that while Portugal recognizes that East Timor falls
under Southeast Asia,s sphere of influence and that
Australia is geographically closer and plays a more
predominant role there, Portugal,s fondness for its former
colony remains strong as does its desire to help establish a
functioning democracy there.
O'Neal