PORTUGAL REVIEWS 2007 CONTRIBUTION TO UN MIDDLE

UNCLAS LISBON 000508 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS IO/UNP - GERMANO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL REVIEWS 2007 CONTRIBUTION TO UN MIDDLE RING SECURITY IN IRAQ REF: SECSTATE 17022 ¶1. (U) In response to reftel message, MFA International Organizations Officer Ana Paula Molina told us she had been unaware that funding was running low for the Middle Ring Security Initiative. Molina consulted with her colleagues in Portugal's mission to the UN and said they were undergoing a review to decide whether Portugal would be able to make a second contribution to the fund in 2007. Pol-Econ Officer stressed that the Middle Security Ring was critical to stabilizing the area and was quickly running out of funds. Molina acknowledged the importance of the mission but cautioned us that Portugal's austere budget would make additional spending difficult this year. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Portugal has been quite supportive on Iraq but is also facing pressure to make significant cuts to government spending. It is unlikely that Portugal will be able to fund this initiative in 2007. End comment. Hoffman