PORTUGALS VIEWS ON NSG, GLOBAL INTIATIVE, AND PSI

UNCLAS LISBON 001467 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR ISN, EUR, AND T E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MCAP PARM PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGALS VIEWS ON NSG, GLOBAL INTIATIVE, AND PSI REF: A. STATE 69315 ¶B. STATE 69283 ¶C. LISBON 1211 ¶D. STATE 71024 ¶1. (U) Visiting ISN/CPI Director Tony Foley called on Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security and Disarmament Director Joao Corte Real May 3 to discuss issues before the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG),the Proliferation Security Initiativ (PSI),and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclar Terrorism. ¶2. (SBU) NSG: Corte Real supportd the Ref A proposal regarding sharing Iran expot denial information. He noted that the Portuguese have received no requests from the Iranians so they have nothing to report, but that they supported the coordination efforts. Corte Real also agreed with the proposed agenda for a special session on Iran and noted that Portugal would attend the proposed session in Vienna (Ref B). He said that the European Union had a strong policy on Iran that goes further than the United Nations. Corte Real also asked if the US intended to propose a special session for India. Foley noted that the negotiations with India needed to be completed before such a session could be proposed. ¶3. (U) Global Initiative: As reported Ref C, Portugal expects to join the Global Initiative soon. Corte Real noted that they agree with all of the principles involved and are drafting a Note Verbale that they will pass to the embassy. He added that they will attend the next meeting in Astana 11-12 June. Corte Real strongly suggested that the Global Initiative include the European Commission as a participant, given that many aspects of the issue traditionally managed by national governments have been ceded to the EC. Corte Real admitted that international organizations do not traditionally enter into such fora, but in this case the EC is the responsible actor. ¶4. (U) PSI: Corte Real confirmed that the Portuguese will attend the exercise in Newport, but will not have as many participants as predicted. The demands of the EU presidency have limited the availability of some officials, so Portugal will have four or five participants representing several agencies. Nonetheless, Corte Real noted Portugal,s strong support for PSI (Ref D). Hoffman