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