PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON JUNE 18-19 FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001622

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2017
TAGS: KPAL ENRG ETRD ETTC PARM PGOV PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S VIEWS ON JUNE 18-19 FOREIGN MINISTERS
MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 80034

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


1. (U) Portuguese Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha
responded to the reftel points on U.S. policy interests
regarding Cuba, Serbia, Kosovo, and Sudan.


2. (C) Cuba: Rocha reported that Portugal supported the
proposal to remove EU sanctions. She emphasized Portugal's
interest in supporting a gradual transition to democracy but
underscored Portugal's concerns about having to lead the EU's
efforts in that regard during its presidency, candidly
admitting she hopes Fidel Castro will stay alive for the next
six months. She added her view that the nations that voted
against lifting the sanctions let individual national
interests trump a common EU-wide interest. (Comment: Senior
GOP interlocutors have regularly reached out to us to
underscore their desire to collaborate with us in supporting
a democratic transition in Cuba, while stressing the need not
to take any steps that might have a negative humanitarian
impact on a Cuban population that has grown to rely on a
range of government-provided benefits. At the same time,
they believe it is necessary to engage with both government
and dissidents, and their support for the lifting of the
sanctions was likely driven by a conclusion that continued
sanctions were not helpful to their efforts to engage with
the regime.)


3. (SBU) Serbia: Rocha said Portugal hopes for further
positive signs of cooperation from the Serbian government.
Portugal will see how the political debate flows on what
"full cooperation" means over the next few months, but Rocha
suggested that member states may become more flexible to
encourage progress.


4. (SBU) Kosovo: Given Russia's intransigence, Portugal is
inclined to agree with France's suggestion of holding off to
allow for negotiation. Rocha said African partners were
expressing their concerns about implementing Ahtisaari's
proposal if it could prompt future independence claims
elsewhere.


5. (SBU) Sudan: Rocha reported that France is seeking to link
assistance to Darfur with humanitarian shipment security in
the Central African Republic and aid to Chad. She stated
that Portugal opposes linking the assistance to African
nations because the African Union should take care of ground
security for the Central African Republic. She added that
the current EU support for Darfur is difficult enough to
sustain without adding additional responsibilities.
Hoffman