PORTUGAL SUPPORTS A/CFE PLANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002143 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SUPPORTS A/CFE PLANS REF: STATE 116194 Classified By: POL CHIEF TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) The Portuguese MFA,s Director for Security and Disarmament Affairs Joao Corte Real told us that Portugal fully supports the U.S. plans outlined reftel. He noted that timely ratification was a matter of political will and that Portugal viewed the Adapted CFE Treaty as a matter of the highest priority. Corte Real assured us that Portugal,s representatives would be prepared to discuss ratification procedures at any upcoming meetings. ¶2. (U) In short, the ratification procedures in Portugal require the following steps: --internal government review of the draft text, led by the MFA,s Legal Department with the concurrence of the Ministry of Defense; --submission by the government to the Assembly of the Republic; --Foreign Affairs Committee report to the Assembly; --Full Assembly voting; --President of the Republic,s signature; --Gazetted in the government,s journal. This process for the ratification of a treaty is simpler and requires fewer steps than for other forms of legislation. Ballard