Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON423
2007-02-15 17:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

DAS ERIC JOHN IN PORTUGAL TO DISCUSS EAST TIMOR

Tags:  PREL MARR KPKO PO TL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9252
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLI #0423/01 0461741
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151741Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5567
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0537
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0375
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0039
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0153
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0488
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0139
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1463
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 000423 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PO TL
SUBJECT: DAS ERIC JOHN IN PORTUGAL TO DISCUSS EAST TIMOR

REF: LISBON 0048

LISBON 00000423 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Deputy Pol/Econ Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 000423

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PO TL
SUBJECT: DAS ERIC JOHN IN PORTUGAL TO DISCUSS EAST TIMOR

REF: LISBON 0048

LISBON 00000423 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Deputy Pol/Econ Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

Summary
--------------

1. (C) EAP DAS Eric John met with Portuguese officials in
Lisbon on February 5 to discuss the situation in East Timor
and review military/police operations. All expressed
Portugal's desire to work with the international community -
particularly with the US and Australia. Portugal was not
taking sides in the political conflict but was maintaining
lines of communications with all parties, officials said.
Several lamented that there was no one strong enough to
counter the influence of former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.
Resolving the election issue was paramount, with Ministry of
Interior SecState Magalhaes traveling to Dili to help
overcome differences and ensure a fair vote. All agreed that
international efforts should concentrate on building a
viable, well-trained police force and not on the Timorese
military. Portugal was considering a UN request to station
additional paramilitary police outside Dili despite
Magalhaes's apparent frustration with UNMIT.

Meetings
--------------

2. (U) EAP DAS Eric John met with Ministry of the Interior
State Secretary Jose Magalhaes whose portfolio includes the
paramilitary Republican National Guard (GNR) currently
stationed in Dili; with MFA Deputy D/G for Foreign Policy
Antonio Ricoca Freire; with the Prime Minister's Diplomatic
Advisor Jorge Roza de Oliveira; and with Parliament's Foreign
Affairs Committee Vice-President Leonor Coutinho. In
addition, the GNR provided a briefing of its operations in
East Timor, and DAS John conducted a TV interview on US -
Asia relations with popular "Society of Nations" TV host Nuno
Rogeiro.

East Timor and Int'l Coordination - A Portuguese Priority
-------------- -

3. (C) Throughout the day, it was evident that the Portuguese
had an extreme fondness for East Timor stemming from their
colonial period and a keen desire to correct previous
mistakes that had inhibited development there. All

interlocutors underscored Portugal's desire to work with the
international community - particularly with the US and
Australia - to stabilize the situation and build a viable
democracy. Portugal was receptive to DAS John's suggestion
for Japan to play a more active role in East Timor, with
Coutinho mentioning that she had raised the issue herself
with the President of East Timor's Parliament.


4. (C) Highlighting East Timor's importance to Portugal,
Coutinho noted that it was the only foreign policy issue on
which all political parties concurred. Ricoca Freire further
noted that Portugal had spent over 400 million euros there
since 1999. Despite this, Magalhaes lamented that Portugal
had not been "pro-active" enough prior to the 2006 riots.
The challenge in East Timor was more than just security, all
said. Democratic leaders needed to be trained and democratic
institutions needed to be built.

Political Readout - No One Strong Enough to Rival Alkatiri
--------------

5. (C) On the political front, all underscored that Portugal
was not taking sides and that it maintained lines of
communications with all parties. In fact, the President of
East Timor's Parliament had just met with Coutinho on
February 5, Ramos Horta was expected to travel to Lisbon on
February 14-15, and Magalhaes planned to travel to Dili the
week of February 12. That said, several lamented that there
was no one strong enough to rival the influence of former
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. President Xanana Gusmao was
popular but not a good leader, according to Coutinho. On the
other hand, Ramos Horta did not have his heart set on leading
the Timorese, according to Magalhaes. Having worked
alongside Ramos Horta at the UN, Magalhaes commented that
Ramos Horta really wanted to be UN Secretary General. Since
that was no longer an option, it was unclear what his true
intentions were.


6. (C) To complicate matters, East Timor's constitution was
inadequate and far too complex for the fledgling nation,

LISBON 00000423 002.2 OF 003


according to Magalhaes. The way it is currently written
favored Mari Alkatiri in his rivalry with Xanana Gusmao.
(Note: Magalhaes, a constitutional lawyer, volunteered that
the Portuguese had helped draft the East Timorese
Constitution, copying large portions from Portugal,s
Constitution.)

Magalhaes Travels to Dili to Support Election Process
--------------

7. (SBU) The election issue - in all its forms - was
paramount, all concurred. Magalhaes planned to travel to
Dili the week of February 12 to help authorities resolve
differences in election timing, encourage a fair and
transparent vote, and ensure that election results were
respected. Since he was traveling in his official capacity,
he would only be meeting with government officials, not with
Mari Alkatiri.


GNR Maintaining Public Order - Building Police Force
--------------

8. (C) All Portuguese officials agreed with DAS John that
international efforts should concentrate on building a
viable, well-trained police force and not on reforming and
re-arming the F-FTDL (Timorese military). The briefing by
the Republican National Guard (Portugal's paramilitary
police) provided an excellent overview of East Timor and a
detailed outline of its mission - to maintain public order
and train the police. Infantry Regiment Bravo, having served
in Iraq and now stationed in Dili, enjoyed excellent
community relations with the Timorese and good coordination
with the Australians. It consisted of 142 officers and three
emergency medical personnel. Magalhaes underscored his close
relationship with the regiment, noting that there had already
been one rotation since initial deployment in June 2006, that
he had personally said goodbye to each officer, and that he
was in direct communication with the GNR commander in Dili.

East Timor Requests More GNR
--------------

9. (C) Magalhaes and Roza de Oliveira informed DAS John that
Portugal had just received a request from East Timor via the
UN to station additional GNR outside Dili. The government
was considering the request but had not made any decision to
date. Magalhaes noted that Portugal had spent six million
euros on its deployment to East Timor in 2006, a huge
expenditure given the country's budgetary problems, and
lamented that the UN had not provided reimbursement. He
implied that UN funding would play a decisive role in
formulating Portugal's response. Magalhaes went on to
criticize UNMIT's organization and coordination of all
contingents under the UNMIT umbrella.

Focus on Portuguese Language and Judicial System
--------------

10. (C) Ricoca Freire commented that the Portuguese language
could play a unifying role in East Timor, given the numerous
dialects there. However, he added, Portugal is also a strong
proponent of regional integration. Ricoca Freire emphasized
the international community needed to help strengthen the
judicial system to promote reconciliation and ensure those
responsible for violence were brought to justice. DAS John
underscored several times that the USG was working behind the
scenes with Indonesia to ensure accountability for the 1999
violence. He noted that laying such groundwork was critical
to ensuring accountability for the 2006 violence in East
Timor.

Philippines - Seeking EU Technical Support for EJK
--------------

11. (C) In response to EU criticism, the Philippines had
asked the EU for assistance on Extra-Judicial killings (EJK).
DAS John requested Portugal support the Philippines's request
at all meetings, suggesting that technical assistance would
be more beneficial than sending a rapporteur. The Portuguese
said they would take it under consideration.

Comment
--------------

12. (C) DAS Eric John underscored to the Portuguese the
importance of international collaboration in East Timor. The
Portuguese expressed a clear desire to work with the
international community - particularly the US and Australia -
on this issue and that our overall objectives are the same.

LISBON 00000423 003.2 OF 003


Portugal's value-added is its long history lends a unique
perspective and its long relationship a special commitment.
Recognizing the sensitivity surrounding its desire to see
Portuguese become East Timor's official language, Portugal
has been working quietly with local schools and Timorese
institutions to promote its use. On a broader regional
scale, Portugal has also expressed a willingness to
coordinate the EU's Asia agenda. Portuguese officials have
been traveling throughout Asia including trips to China,
Japan and South Korea in preparation for Portugal's EU
Presidency later this year. Post will explore DAS John's
suggestion for a possible DVC with EAP in advance of the
November EU-Asean meeting.

DAS Eric John has cleared this cable.
Hoffman