Portugal Confirms Support for U.S. IMO Candidate: Again

UNCLAS LISBON 003088 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE NOFORN Department for IO/UNP E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: PREL UN PO SUBJECT: Portugal Confirms Support for U.S. IMO Candidate: Again Requests US Backing for UNSC Seat REF: Lisbon 2621 ¶1. (U) On December 3, Portugal forwarded a diplomatic note, dated November 28, noting its support for the U.S. election to the International Maritime Organization as a Class A country. As with the reftel dipnote, the MFA once again drew a connection between Portuguese support in international fora and 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 and has the honor of congratulating the American government on its election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO),as a "category A" member state, a victory which was in part supported by Portugal's vote. Recalling the regular, uncompensated support that Portugal has offered in the past to numerous (18) American candidates, the Ministry is confident that it will soon be able to count on a confirmation of support from America for Portugal's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (2011-2012). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to reiterate to the U.S. Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration. Lisbon, November 28, 2007 End informal translation. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: This is the second recent instance in which the Portuguese have explicitly linked in a diplomatic note their support for a U.S. candidate for an international organization to Portugal's candidacy for a UN Security Council seat in 2011-2012. Although our conversations have so far been limited to the working level, we suspect this issue will soon become a regular talking point for more senior Portuguese government officials. In the meantime, we will continue to reiterate that we do not reveal U.S. voting intentions for these elections. STEPHENSON