PORTUGUESE FM AMADO ON RUSSIA, IRAN, KOSOVO, AND

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 002730 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017 TAGS: PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE FM AMADO ON RUSSIA, IRAN, KOSOVO, AND EU-AFRICA SUMMIT REF: LISBON 2720 Classified By: Ambassador Alfred Hoffman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador hosted FM Amado for a very friendly, two-and-a-half hour one-on-one lunch at the Residence on October 24. Amado said the EU would press President Putin during the October 26 EU-Russia summit to agree to additional UN sanctions on Iran and to invite the OSCE to observe the December 2 Duma elections. He was optimistic about the Russian response on the latter point. On Kosovo, Amado did not speculate on how individual Member States might respond to a UDI by Kosovo, but rather stressed the importance of maintaining a common EU approach if the Troika negotiations are unsuccessful. He did not address the state of planning for an ESDP mission. He underscored Portugal,s determination to proceed with an EU-Africa summit in spite of concerns about Robert Mugabe,s attendance. End Summary. EU-Russia Summit -------------- ¶2. (C) Iran: The Ambassador encouraged Portugal to press President Putin to hold firm on Iran, particularly to push Tehran to fully implement the IAEA workplan and to comply fully with previous UN Security Council Resolutions. Amado replied that it is their intention to continue to be strong on Iran, to collaborate with us in ensuring Iran is not allowed to develop a nuclear weapon capability. Amado reassured the Ambassador that the EU would press the Russians on the need for further sanctions but did not address directly the question of autonomous measures. ¶3. (C) CFE: The Ambassador expressed his hope that the EU would press the Russians not to suspend implementation while talks continue on the way forward. Amado replied that he thought significant headway had been made on this topic and he was hopeful there would be a satisfactory resolution. ¶4. (C) Election Observation: Amado said the EU would press the Russians to issue the OSCE an invitation to send an election observation mission for the December 2 Duma elections and was optimistic that Putin would agree. Kosovo -------------- ¶5. (C) Amado said he and his EU counterparts have been consumed by negotiations on the EU's constitutional reform treaty and were proud to have secured final agreement of heads of state and government at the October 18-19 informal European Council gathering in Lisbon. Now they will begin to focus more intensively on Kosovo. If it appears by mid-November as though the Troika negotiations are making little progress, he will work hard to build a consensus EU approach on the way forward. He speculated that a number of EU Member States would recognize a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, but underscored his strong preference for the EU, to the extent possible, to act in unison after December 10. No matter what happens, Amado said, it is essential that the EU speak with one voice on Kosovo. Energy -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked whether he was troubled by the efforts of Portugal's primary energy company, Galp, to increase collaboration with Gazprom, Amado said no, he did not think those efforts diminished the importance of energy security and the need to maintain some measure of freedom of choice from Russia. He added that the main reason GALP is exploring collaborative activities with Venezuela's national oil company is because Galp's CEO lived and worked in Venezuela for many years. Amado was skeptical, though, that those explorations would result in much concrete collaboration. GTMO detainee resettlement -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) The Ambassador asked whether the GOP had made any decision in regard to the recent request by S/WCI Ambassador LISBON 00002730 002 OF 002 Williamson, during his October 10 visit to Lisbon (reftel), that Portugal accept a number of individuals currently incarcerated at Guantanamo. Amado said he was receptive to the idea, noting that Portugal and other EU Member States need to help us close the detention facility at Guantanamo. Given the internal political difficulties generated by the whole issue of CIA overflights and renditions, Amado said his government would not be able to be the only Member State that says yes -- it would need the political cover of acting as part of a group. If a number of EU countries agree to accept detainees, though, Portugal would be likely to do so as well. He indicated that he had discussed this issue with the British, but noted that the Austrian Chancellor had not raised it on the margins of the October 18-19 informal European Council meeting, as the Austrians had told Ambassador Williamson they would do. EU-Africa Summit -------------- ¶8. (C) The Ambassador urged Portugal to do everything possible to ensure Robert Mugabe does not attend the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon in early December, noting that his presence would send a terrible message about good governance and human rights. Amado noted that there are plenty of undemocratic, corrupt political leaders in Africa, and that Mugabe should not be held to a different standard. He criticized the British government for focusing so energetically on Mugabe when there are many other leaders who should receive the same level of attention. The critical point, though, was that the summit take place, as Europe is working to secure with the Africans a joint plan of action that will establish collaborative efforts in a range of key areas, including security and peacekeeping. France in NATO -------------- ¶9. (C) Amado expressed strong support for President Sarkozy,s efforts to have France reintegrated into NATO's unified military command. He encouraged the United States to support this energetically, saying it was his view that giving the French a leadership role would strengthen the Alliance. Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) This was intended as the Ambassador's farewell meeting with Amado and, as usual, their conversation was a warm and useful exchange. On the positive side, we were heartened to hear that the EU plans to press the Russians on many of the key issues, although they are not likely to be as assertive as we would like. Amado's remarks on the resettlement of Guantanamo detainees were very forward-leaning -- it will be essential to be able to reassure him that there are other EU Member States prepared to join Portugal in accepting at least some detainees. We were disappointed, but not surprised, at Amado's remarks on Mugabe. As we have reported previously, the Portuguese don't like Mugabe any more than we do, but if his presence in Lisbon is the price of ensuing the EU-Africa summit takes place, they are willing to pay that price. Hoffman