Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON966
2007-04-13 09:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

SPEAKER PELOSI'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH PARLIAMENT

Tags:  MOPS PREL PO EUN XF ZP AF 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 000966 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL PO EUN XF ZP AF
SUBJECT: SPEAKER PELOSI'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENT JAIME GAMA


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 000966

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2017
TAGS: MOPS PREL PO EUN XF ZP AF
SUBJECT: SPEAKER PELOSI'S APRIL 6 MEETING WITH PARLIAMENT
PRESIDENT JAIME GAMA


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

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

1. (C) Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
paid a courtesy call on Portuguese Parliament President
Jaime Gama on April 6 during a Lisbon stopover following her
trip to the Middle East. The hour-long meeting was cordial
and broad ranging. Speaker Pelosi underscored that the
delegation had traveled to the Middle East on a fact-finding
mission and to speak with regional key players, per the
Baker-Hamilton Study Group recommendations. Discussions
centered on Syria's role in regional stability, greater EU
troop contributions in Afghanistan, the way forward in Iraq,
relations with Lebanon, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process, with particular reference to the Saudi peace
proposal.

Meeting Participants:

2. (SBU) Speaker Pelosi and several representatives
underscored to Gama and the press that the bipartisan
delegation was religiously and ethnically diverse.

Portuguese Attendees:
Parliament President Jaime Gama
Maria Madalena Fischer, Diplomatic Advisor to Parliament
President

U.S. Attendees:
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy
Pelosi(D-CA)
Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA)
Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Representative David Hobson (R-OH)
Representative Lousie Slaughter (D-NY)
Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Wilson Livingood, House Sergeant in Arms
Paul Pelosi (Speaker's spouse)
Charge d'Affaires Adrienne O'Neal, U.S. Embassy Lisbon
Dep P/E Counselor Cari Enav, U.S. Embassy Lisbon (notetaker)

Syria
--------------

3. (C) Speaker Pelosi outlined for Gama the strong, unified
message that the delegation delivered to Syrian President
Bahsir el-Assad. All members expresssed serious concern
about Syria being used as an entry platform for fighters into
Iraq, underscored the importance of Syria allowing the Hariri
tribunal to proceed, urged Assad to stop the country's
support of Hamas and Hezbollah, asked for his help in freeing

the Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah, and reviewed the
detention of individual dissidents and opposition leaders.


4. (C) Pelosi noted that the delegation had gone to ascertain
if Assad was a serious interlocutor. Despite discussion with
key Syrian officials, Assad's intentions in the region were
still unclear. She agreed with Gama that Assad had squandered
the opportunity to implement reform when he first assumed the
Presidency and noted that despite difficult bilateral
relations, the Syrian people had warmly welcomed the
delegation.

Afghanistan: The EU Needs to Carry its Own Weight
--------------

5. (C) Speaker Pelosi shared that a senior U.S. military
officer told her during a recent trip to Afghanistan that it
was imperative to win the war by 2008 or face the possibility
of losing the peace. Representatives Lantos and Hobson
expressed concern that certain European countries,
specifically France and Germany, were unwilling to deploy
forces without caveats, particularly in southern Afghanistan.
(Note: Portugal currently has 145 infantry troops and 7 air
controllers deployed to Afghanistan under ISAF,serving in
Karbala, Afghanistan without caveat.) Lantos added that
although "the U.S. had provided hundreds of thousands of
troops over two generations to defend Europe during the Cold
War, it now had to beg for a few thousand European troops" to
fight in Afghanistan. Pelosi, Lantos and Hobson underscored
the need for the European Union "to step up to the plate" and

LISBON 00000966 002 OF 003


urged Portugal to use its upcoming position as EU President
in the latter half of 2007 to encourage the EU to "carry its
own weight" in stabilizing the country.


6. (C) Gama acknowledged that Afghanistan remained
problematic, both as a proving ground for enemies of the West
and as a source of drugs bound for Europe. He noted
Portugal's strong cooperation with the U.S. through several
administrations, including the use of Lajes Air Force Base
for Enduring Freedom missions and in the global war on
terrorism. He underscored that Portugal remained highly
supportive of NATO's mission and agreed that the West could
not afford to lose the war in Afghanistan.

Iraq
--------------

7. (C) Noting that several generals have said the war in Iraq
could not be won militarily, Pelosi commented that the
mission there needed to be changed from one of combat to one
of training. Pelosi and Gama agreed that withdrawal had to
be orderly and leave behind a sound political structure.
Pelosi added that she had expressed concern to President
Al-Maliki during a recent visit to Baghdad over Iraq's
inability to achieve the benchmarks outlined by President
Bush (i.e. constitution, reconstruction, regional diplomatic
efforts). Gama added that there needed to be a new
international mandate in Iraq that included not just the U.S.
and the EU, but China, Japan, Turkey and Russia. Although
Gama commented that the U.S. was no longer the primary target
of Iraqi insurgents, Pelosi countered that U.S. forces
continued to suffer painful losses.

Lebanon
--------------

8. (C) After meetings with key Lebanese officials, it was
unclear whether the Lebanese loved the U.S. and Siniora or if
they just hated Hezbollah more, Representative Hobson
commented. One thing was clear, however, all Lebanese
interlocutors had underscored the need to maintain dialogue
with Syria, Pelosi noted. She added that the delegation
urged Nabih Berri to call Congress into session, but that he
declined due to its "illegitimacy." Parliament President
Gama added that it was important to get Hezbollah out of
Southern Lebanon and Syria out of Lebanon to ensure a safer
Israel.

Israel/Palestinian Territories and the Saudi Peace Proposal
--------------

9. (C) Speaker Pelosi reported that the delegation had met
with Israeli and Palestinian officials who all shared a
strong desire for peace. (Note: The delegation did not meet
with Hamas representatives.) Pelosi and Gama agreed that the
Saudi peace proposal was a good first step. Gama noted that
it was unclear how the Quartet would view it since the
proposal included non-starters for the Israelis such as the
right of return for refugees, and it was imperative that
Israel come to the table. Lantos agreed, adding that the
delegation had told the Saudis that negotiations had just
begun. The plan could not be a "take it or leave it" offer.

Iran
--------------

10. (C) The delegation said it had expressed concern for
Iran's foreign policy and its nuclear program with
interlocutors in all countries, noting that Representatives
Lantos and Hobson would be introducing legislation on the
civil use of nuclear power when Congress resumed.

Press Reports
--------------

11. (U) Speaker Pelosi spoke briefly to journalists after the
meeting, stressing that the delegation's Middle East trip,
which had focused on the fight against terrorism and bringing
peace to the region, had been "intense." She underscored that
the bipartisan, religiously and ethnically diverse delegation
presented a strong, unified message to its interlocutors.
She noted that Portugal was a valued friend of the U.S. and
that she was honored to be in Lisbon and have the chance to
speak with Gama.


LISBON 00000966 003 OF 003



12. (U) This cable has not been cleared by CODEL Pelosi.

O'Neal