Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON694
2007-03-16 15:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY OF
how-toVZCZCXRO7809 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHLI #0694 0751528 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161528Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5684 INFO RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO PRIORITY 0014 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 0207 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV PRIORITY 0150 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0125 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0144 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 0060 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0112 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 0138 RUEHPA/AMEMBASSY PRAIA PRIORITY 0223 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0156 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0304 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0384 RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR PRIORITY 0045 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0103 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0115 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR PRIORITY 0007 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0287
UNCLAS LISBON 000694
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL, G, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY OF
DEMOCRACIES WORKING GROUP
REF: A. STATE 19832
B. LISBON 00217
THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 5 FOR DETAILS.
UNCLAS LISBON 000694
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL, G, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY OF
DEMOCRACIES WORKING GROUP
REF: A. STATE 19832
B. LISBON 00217
THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 5 FOR DETAILS.
1. (SBU) Summary: MFA Deputy Director General for Foreign
Policy Antonio Ricoca Freire announced that, due to resource
strains caused by Portugal's upcoming EU Council Presidency,
Portugal would be stepping down as President of the Working
Group for Inter-regional Cooperation in the Community of
Democracies (CD). He requested that meeting participants
consult with capitals and respond by March 23 with
suggestions for a replacement or replacements to direct the
group's work. End Summary.
2. (U) As a follow-up to Portugal's request for input on
future CD projects (ref B),MFA Deputy Director General for
Foreign Policy Antonio Ricoca Freire hosted a meeting of
several Community of Democracy (CD) missions in Lisbon. In
addition to our suggestions involving the United Nations
Democracy Caucus and outreach to Europe, Romania suggested
approaching the Francophonie informally to see whether they
might be interested in the CD. Romania is currently the
Chair of the Francophonie and saw the overlap as an
opportunity that could spark new interest by select member
states. Ricoca Freire agreed with the proposal and asked
Romania to begin informal talks.
3. (SBU) Ricoca Freire then reported that Portugal plans to
step down as the President of the Working Group for
Inter-regional Cooperation, citing resource constraints from
the upcoming EU Presidency. He underscored Portugal's
commitment to the CD efforts, confirmed Portugal's plan to
become Chair for the CD Convening Group once Mali steps down,
but said Portugal simply could not handle the working group
responsibilities in combination with its other obligations.
This was the first mention that Portugal would be leaving its
position on the working group. Chilean Ambassador to
Portugal, Francisco Perez-Walker, responded with surprise and
assured Ricoca Freire that the group supported Portugal's
work to date and wants to see Portugal continue in its role.
Ricoca Freire acknowledged the support but stressed that
Portugal has decided it cannot continue and is now seeking a
nation or a group of nations willing to replace Portugal
immediately, noting that the working group chairmanship
required an "availability" that Portugal could not offer at
this time.
4. (U) Ricoca Freire requested that the U.S., Chile, Peru,
Romania, and the Ukraine consult with capitals to seek a
response before March 23 so that Portugal can announce its
departure and its replacement at the March 28 CD meeting in
Bamako, Mali. He offered several suggestions including
holding the meetings in Washington DC at member embassies,
rotating the responsibilities between several capitals,
calling on the co-presidents of the working group, or even
keeping the working group meetings in Lisbon (although not at
the MFA) for the time being. Portugal does not want to
impose any conditions on the group's decision, according to
Ricoca Freire.
5. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department guidance on
USG views for replacing Portugal as President of the CD
working group. If possible, we would welcome guidance by
March 22 to ensure that we can transmit our input before
Portugal's announcement at the March 28 meeting in Bamako.
End action request.
Hoffman
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL, G, EUR/WE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY OF
DEMOCRACIES WORKING GROUP
REF: A. STATE 19832
B. LISBON 00217
THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 5 FOR DETAILS.
1. (SBU) Summary: MFA Deputy Director General for Foreign
Policy Antonio Ricoca Freire announced that, due to resource
strains caused by Portugal's upcoming EU Council Presidency,
Portugal would be stepping down as President of the Working
Group for Inter-regional Cooperation in the Community of
Democracies (CD). He requested that meeting participants
consult with capitals and respond by March 23 with
suggestions for a replacement or replacements to direct the
group's work. End Summary.
2. (U) As a follow-up to Portugal's request for input on
future CD projects (ref B),MFA Deputy Director General for
Foreign Policy Antonio Ricoca Freire hosted a meeting of
several Community of Democracy (CD) missions in Lisbon. In
addition to our suggestions involving the United Nations
Democracy Caucus and outreach to Europe, Romania suggested
approaching the Francophonie informally to see whether they
might be interested in the CD. Romania is currently the
Chair of the Francophonie and saw the overlap as an
opportunity that could spark new interest by select member
states. Ricoca Freire agreed with the proposal and asked
Romania to begin informal talks.
3. (SBU) Ricoca Freire then reported that Portugal plans to
step down as the President of the Working Group for
Inter-regional Cooperation, citing resource constraints from
the upcoming EU Presidency. He underscored Portugal's
commitment to the CD efforts, confirmed Portugal's plan to
become Chair for the CD Convening Group once Mali steps down,
but said Portugal simply could not handle the working group
responsibilities in combination with its other obligations.
This was the first mention that Portugal would be leaving its
position on the working group. Chilean Ambassador to
Portugal, Francisco Perez-Walker, responded with surprise and
assured Ricoca Freire that the group supported Portugal's
work to date and wants to see Portugal continue in its role.
Ricoca Freire acknowledged the support but stressed that
Portugal has decided it cannot continue and is now seeking a
nation or a group of nations willing to replace Portugal
immediately, noting that the working group chairmanship
required an "availability" that Portugal could not offer at
this time.
4. (U) Ricoca Freire requested that the U.S., Chile, Peru,
Romania, and the Ukraine consult with capitals to seek a
response before March 23 so that Portugal can announce its
departure and its replacement at the March 28 CD meeting in
Bamako, Mali. He offered several suggestions including
holding the meetings in Washington DC at member embassies,
rotating the responsibilities between several capitals,
calling on the co-presidents of the working group, or even
keeping the working group meetings in Lisbon (although not at
the MFA) for the time being. Portugal does not want to
impose any conditions on the group's decision, according to
Ricoca Freire.
5. (U) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department guidance on
USG views for replacing Portugal as President of the CD
working group. If possible, we would welcome guidance by
March 22 to ensure that we can transmit our input before
Portugal's announcement at the March 28 meeting in Bamako.
End action request.
Hoffman