Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON3116
2007-12-07 17:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PORTUGUESE VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF DECEMBER 10-11 GAERC

Tags:  IR IZ IS PREL PGOV PO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6614
RR RUEHAG RUEHKW RUEHROV
DE RUEHLI #3116 3411713
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 071713Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6487
INFO RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0071
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0011
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0035
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0257
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003116 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: IR IZ IS PREL PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF DECEMBER 10-11 GAERC

REF: A. SECSTATE 164327

B. SECSTATE 163945

Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003116

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: IR IZ IS PREL PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF DECEMBER 10-11 GAERC

REF: A. SECSTATE 164327

B. SECSTATE 163945

Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha responded
to ref A policy interests with the Portuguese views in
advance of the GAERC meeting on December 10 and 11. In
addition to reftel points, Rocha mentioned that ministers
would review conclusions on Lebanon and would consider
proposals to strengthen EU-Israel relations. Rocha noted
that Iraq and Pakistan were not on the agenda.


2. (C) Kosovo: Rocha stated that Ischinger would brief the
ministers on the Kosovo Troika Report and make
recommendations in advance of the EU Council meeting on
December 14. While Rocha did not expect any significant
advances, she noted that the rarely-held joint meeting of
heads of state and foreign ministers, scheduled for the
December 14 European Council meeting, could advance the EU's
discussions, especially regarding the possibility of
approving an ESDP mission deployment without a UN resolution.



3. (C) Iran: The ministers were expected to discuss Solana's
November 13 meeting with Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Kazem
Jalali, which Rocha characterized as "disastrous." Jalali
told Solana that he would not abide by any agreements made by
his predecessor. The EU was also slated to consider future
EU action both in the case of a UN resolution and, as a
next-best possibility, whether to proceed with EU autonomous
measures.


4. (C) Middle East: Rocha predicted that the ministers would
look towards the Paris talks and discuss the EU's thoughts
post-Annapolis. She confirmed that the EU stood ready to
support the peace process and provide financial assistance,
both as a bloc and at the member state level. The ministers'
discussion will be a restricted session with limited or no
staff participation. The Netherlands requested 30 minutes to
discuss upgrading the EU's relationship with Israel. Israeli
officials have recently pushed to have more frequent,
substantive meetings with the EU, but Rocha emphasized that
several member states were resisting enhanced relations given
their concerns about "Israel's human rights record."


5. (C) Sudan: The French-led EU mission to Chad and the
Central African Republic has been put on hold due to the lack
of a field hospital and airlift capabilities. The GAERC
discussion will attempt to secure donations from individual
member states and discuss contributions made to the mission
thus far. The French believe they are being asked to
shoulder too much of the financial burden, according to
Rocha, and are pressing member states to agree to what they
view as a more equitable distribution. Rocha noted that the
previous hopes of having an EU mission on the ground by the
end of 2007 were unlikely without strong financial and
equipment commitments in the near future. She speculated that
the issue would not be raised at the EU-Africa summit because
it could potentially embarrass the African counterparts and
fail to resolve anything.


6. (SBU) Burma: Rocha said the Burma discussion would be
limited to a December update and would not include draft
conclusions. Portugal supported the adoption of conclusions
last month and backed EU sanctions against Burma, but had
been urged by ASEAN partners at the ASEAN summit to encourage
the EU to wait before taking additional action. In
particular, Portugal was cautioned that further restrictions
would not only be unhelpful, but could actually push the
Burmese authorities into a more entrenched position.


7. (C) Lebanon elections: Responding to the ref B points on
Lebanon, Rocha stated that the EU had draft conclusions that
express disappointment over the continued election delays.
Rocha remarked that the language was flexible, so as to allow
for changes in the status over the weekend, but are ready as
a baseline document for the ministers' signature.
Stephenson