Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON3129
2007-12-11 17:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
FM AMADO TO ATTEND PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO9597 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #3129 3451727 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111727Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6492 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: KPAL IS PREL PGOV KWBG AMGT PO
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 163955
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 003129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: KPAL IS PREL PGOV KWBG AMGT PO
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 163955
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel demarche on December 10 to MFA
Chief of Staff Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes, who was
accompanied by the Foreign Minister's diplomatic advisor,
Paulo Lourenco. DCM was joined by pol/econ counselor.
Ministerial attendance
--------------
2. (C) Ribeiro de Menezes confirmed that Foreign Minister
Amado would lead Portugal's delegation to the Paris Donors
Conference. He will be accompanied by Portugal's special
coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ambassador
Luis Caetano de Almeida Sampaio; diplomatic advisor Paulo
Lourenco; and Middle East/Maghreb director Isabel Pedrosa. He
noted that Amado had agreed to host a Quartet meeting at
Portugal's embassy in Paris on the afternoon of December 17.
Portugal's contribution
--------------
3. (C) While Portugal's primary financial contributions
would continue to be via the European Commission, Ribeiro de
Menezes said Portugal also plans to announce a bilateral
pledge in Paris. Lourenco said the precise amount of the
pledge was still under consideration and would be earmarked
to address any particular shortfalls in the Fayyad plan.
Annapolis a success
--------------
4. (C) Ribeiro de Menezes told us that FM Amado had been
"extremely encouraged" by his observations at the Annapolis
meeting. His boss had been particularly impressed by the
degree of political commitment demonstrated by all parties,
including the United States, and was pleased that President
Bush plans to visit the region early next year. Ribeiro de
Menezes said the Portuguese government believed it had made a
positive contribution to the peace process during its EU
presidency. He noted the "very good Quartet meeting" in
Lisbon at the outset of Portugal's presidency, and he thought
Amado's several visits to the region had been helpful in
delivering useful messages to key figures. There had been
talk of Prime Minister Socrates visiting the Middle East, but
the timing never seemed right, and the press of EU presidency
business ultimately proved too big an obstacle.
Stephenson
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/IPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: KPAL IS PREL PGOV KWBG AMGT PO
SUBJECT: FM AMADO TO ATTEND PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 163955
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel demarche on December 10 to MFA
Chief of Staff Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes, who was
accompanied by the Foreign Minister's diplomatic advisor,
Paulo Lourenco. DCM was joined by pol/econ counselor.
Ministerial attendance
--------------
2. (C) Ribeiro de Menezes confirmed that Foreign Minister
Amado would lead Portugal's delegation to the Paris Donors
Conference. He will be accompanied by Portugal's special
coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ambassador
Luis Caetano de Almeida Sampaio; diplomatic advisor Paulo
Lourenco; and Middle East/Maghreb director Isabel Pedrosa. He
noted that Amado had agreed to host a Quartet meeting at
Portugal's embassy in Paris on the afternoon of December 17.
Portugal's contribution
--------------
3. (C) While Portugal's primary financial contributions
would continue to be via the European Commission, Ribeiro de
Menezes said Portugal also plans to announce a bilateral
pledge in Paris. Lourenco said the precise amount of the
pledge was still under consideration and would be earmarked
to address any particular shortfalls in the Fayyad plan.
Annapolis a success
--------------
4. (C) Ribeiro de Menezes told us that FM Amado had been
"extremely encouraged" by his observations at the Annapolis
meeting. His boss had been particularly impressed by the
degree of political commitment demonstrated by all parties,
including the United States, and was pleased that President
Bush plans to visit the region early next year. Ribeiro de
Menezes said the Portuguese government believed it had made a
positive contribution to the peace process during its EU
presidency. He noted the "very good Quartet meeting" in
Lisbon at the outset of Portugal's presidency, and he thought
Amado's several visits to the region had been helpful in
delivering useful messages to key figures. There had been
talk of Prime Minister Socrates visiting the Middle East, but
the timing never seemed right, and the press of EU presidency
business ultimately proved too big an obstacle.
Stephenson