Portugal Confirms Support for Gaer, Requests US Backing for

UNCLAS LISBON 002621 SIPDIS SIPDIS Department for IO/UNP E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: PREL UN PO SUBJECT: Portugal Confirms Support for Gaer, Requests US Backing for UNSC Seat 2011-2012 ¶1. (U) Following the informal notification on October 9, Portugal forwarded a diplomatic note, dated October 10 noting that it had voted in favor of the U.S. candidate for the UN Committee Against Torture. The note then goes on to solicit U.S. support for Portugal's candidacy for the UN Security Council in 2011-2012. ¶2. (SBU) Begin informal translation of Portuguese dipnote: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its highest compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Lisbon and hereby congratulates the United States on its election to the Committee Against Torture (CAT). Given the excellent relations between Portugal and the United States, in particular the mutual exchange of support for the international candidacies of both countries, and noting the individual merits of the candidates, Portugal informs the United States that it supported the U.S. candidate for the Committee Against Torture. Portugal is confident that, with this additional demonstration of support for U.S. candidates, it will be possible to further reinforce the already excellent bilateral relationship in this field. To that end, we reaffirm Portugal's candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (2011-2012) and hope that we can count on the support of the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to reiterate to the U.S. Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration. End informal translation. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: Portugal began to ramp up its lobbying efforts in early October anticipating that the competition will be fierce, with two other Western Group countries competing with Portugal for two seats. (Portugal announced its candidacy in 2001.) In conversations at the working level, we reiterated longstanding U.S. policy that we do not reveal in advance U.S. voting intentions. HOFFMAN