PORTUGUESE VIEWS ON JULY 23 FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001882 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2017 TAGS: KPAL ENRG ETRD ETTC PGOV PREL SOCI SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWS ON JULY 23 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: SECSTATE 98749 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 outlined Portugal's views on the reftel points on U.S. policy interests regarding Kosovo, the Ukraine, Iran, Middle East, and Sudan. She also offered a preview of EU discussions on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya. ¶2. (C) Kosovo: Rocha admitted that Portugal was frustrated by Romania's announcement in Vienna which reportedly insisted that parties not rule out non-Ahtisaari proposals on Kosovo's future. She underscored that the statement did not reflect broader EU thoughts and went against the prevailing EU consensus. ¶3. (SBU) Albania: Albania's current political impasse is moving towards a crisis situation, according to Rocha. She added that the EU will discuss the current state of play on elections and will put all association talks on hold if the next two rounds of elections fail to elect a new government. ¶4. (C) The Ukraine: The EU will hold a summit with the Ukraine on September 14, just two weeks before elections, and Portugal is cautious about supporting a joint declaration that could be seen as favoring a party or candidate. The ministers plan to discuss needed legal and constitutional reforms as well as the draft joint statement which the Ukrainians have presented. Rocha stressed that the EU will continue to press the Ukrainians to hold democratic elections that meet international standards. ¶5. (SBU) Iran: Rocha predicted that the discussion on Iran would focus mainly on Solana's briefing and on the worsening human rights situation. Earlier this week, EU capitals informed resident Iranian diplomats of the growing EU preoccupation with Iran's violation of human rights and gender-imbalanced punishments of late. ¶6. (SBU) Middle East: FM Amado will give a readout on the July 19 Quartet meeting and is likely to mention Secretary Rice's comments on America's commitment to behaving responsibly in Iraq. Rocha stated that the EU plans to discuss the results of the Inter-Lebanon Dialogue meeting and reaffirm its commitment to support the Siniora government. ¶7. (C) Sudan: The ESDP mission to Chad proposed by France will be a key focus for discussion, according to Rocha. Several member states are concerned that the plan lacks a solid exit strategy and therefore could become an open-ended commitment. Rocha confided that Portugal continues to have reservations about the wisdom of undertaking a new mission in Africa, especially given the possibility of a costly ongoing commitment, but would remain open in its role as Council President. She also confirmed that the EU stands ready to impose sanctions together with the U.S. if it becomes clear that we cannot make progress through current negotiations. ¶8. (C) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRoC): Rocha noted the EU's growing concern about the political situation in the DRoC, especially following the recent meeting with the Belgian Foreign Affairs officials. She stated that increasing tension in Eastern Congo had been met with Kabila dispatching the military under his cousin's command. Moreover, she cautioned that it looked like President Kabila would attempt to forbid Jean-Pierre Bemba's return -- a move that could prompt the opposition leader into leading in exile from a neighboring African nation with the assistance of dissident General Laurent Nkunda. Kabila reportedly told the Belgians that he was sick of the international community interfering in his affairs, but he also requested additional international assistance. ¶9. (C) Libya: Although Rocha expressed satisfaction over the decision to remove the death penalty sentence on the Bulgarian nurses, she asserted that the EU still has to push forward on the issue. The final step would be to exchange the nurses so that they can serve out their sentences in Bulgaria instead of Libya. She predicted that the discussion would focus on the next steps. Hoffman