Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07STATE35083
2007-03-20 19:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY

Tags:  KDEM PREL PO 
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VZCZCXYZ0038
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5083 0791939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 201931Z MAR 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 3386
INFO RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 5837
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 1668
UNCLAS STATE 035083 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY
OF DEMOCRACIES WORKING GROUP

REF: LISBON 694

THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4 FOR DETAILS.

UNCLAS STATE 035083

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL SEEKS REPLACEMENT LEADER FOR COMMUNITY
OF DEMOCRACIES WORKING GROUP

REF: LISBON 694

THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4 FOR DETAILS.


1. (SBU) Summary: Portugal's announcement, as detailed
reftel, that it would no longer lead the Community of
Democracies (CD) Working Group (WG) on Regional and
Interregional Cooperation for Democratic Governance is a
disappointing development. Department understands the
Portuguese are not to be dissuaded from this decision, will
take a two-pronged approach from Washington and Lisbon to
resolve this issue. Our main priority is to identify new WG
leadership quickly so that Portugal may announce the change
at the CD Convening Group meeting in Bamako March 28-29. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) While Portugal's decision to abdicate leadership of
the CD WG on Regional and Interregional Cooperation for
Democratic Governance is disappointing, particularly in light
of Portugal's impending CD Chairmanship, the Department
believes the swift transfer of leadership to be best for the
WG to accomplish its objectives to implement one or two
concrete democratic promotion projects prior to the November
2007 Bamako Ministerial. As co-chairs for the WG, Romania
and Ukraine are the obvious choices to take over leadership
of the WG. Given the continued shakeups in the Ukrainian
MFA, Romania might be in a stronger position to lead at this
time. The Department has no preference for a location for
the WG to continue to meet, although the new leadership's
diplomats in Lisbon already engaged may wish to continue with
the project. The Department's greatest priority is that the
new leader(s) quickly move forward with the development and
implementation of concrete initiatives.


3. (SBU) The Department has identified a two-pronged
approach to quickly move the WG beyond the leadership change
to active initiative development. Under Secretary Dobriansky
will take the opportunity to raise the situation in two
meetings this week in Washington that had been previously
arranged for unrelated matters. On Tuesday, March 20, Under
Secretary Dobriansky met with Romanian Charge Daniela Gitman,

SIPDIS
during which she encouraged the Romanians to take a
leadership role as Portugal transitions out of the WG
Chairmanship. The Charge responded positively, and it
appears the Romanians will position themselves to take over
the WG leadership. On Wednesday, March 21, Under Secretary
Dobriansky will meet with Portuguese Ambassador Joao de
Vallera, during which she will encourage Portugal to support
its co-chairs so that a smooth handover of responsibilities
occurs. She will also encourage Portugal, as it prepares to
take on the CD Chairmanship in late November, to remain
engaged throughout 2007 in the deli
berations of the Convening Group, the CD invitation process,
working groups, and the Permanent Secretariat.


4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: As both meetings occur prior to
the response date Lisbon requested, Department requests post
to reach out to the MFA as soon as possible, to gently urge
the Portuguese to support a swift transition of power to the
WG co-chairs. Department also requests post urge the
Portuguese to maintain a close dialogue with CD Convening
Group members to preclude confusion such as this in the
future.
End Action Request.
RICE