PORTUGAL'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE 16-17

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001397

NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: IR IZ IS SY PHUM PREL PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE 16-17
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 62450

Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary: The Portuguese MFA's Deputy EU
Correspondent outlined internal EU disagreements on how best
to proceed on Zimbabwe, Cuba, and the Olympics, but
underscored that the group was largely united on Iran, the
Middle East Peace Process, Democratic Republic of Congo
(DROC) and Georgia. Given Ireland's rejection of the EU
Treaty of Lisbon last week, however, the meeting will
probably only focus on common foreign policy after planning a
road forward. End summary.


2. (SBU) Iran: Portuguese Deputy EU Correspondent Ana
Filomena Rocha reported that Portugal and other EU member
states stood ready to implement UN Resolution 1803 sanctions
on Iran, but were waiting for a readout on Solana's trip,
scheduled for June 13-15. Prior to his departure, Solana
reportedly asked EU members to hold off implementing
sanctions until he could gauge the viability of negotiations.
Rocha mentioned that Portugal needs the EU's consensus to
implement the UN sanctions into national law and admitted
that the current situation leaves the GOP in legal limbo.


3. (C/NF) Israeli-Palestinian Peace: Rocha offered a
pessimistic outlook for the peace process and said conditions
were worsening. She remarked that Israel's efforts to talk
with Syria via Turkey boded ill for negotiations with the
Palestinians. "Olmert is too weak to make any gestures at
this point," Rocha judged.


4. (C) Zimbabwe: Portugal admits that the runoff election
will likely be manipulated and corrupt, but opposes
criticizing the South African Development Community (SADC)
observer delegation for its shortcomings. Rocha conceded
that the SADC group was delayed, understaffed, and viewed by
some as biased, but added that criticizing the observers at
this point would only undermine the EU-supported group.


5. (C/NF) Cuba: Portugal is strongly in favor of removing
sanctions and beginning an EU-Cuba dialogue, according to
Rocha. After criticizing the Czech Republic and Sweden for
blocking consensus, Rocha said that it would likely be
resolved at the GAERC meeting, if not late this week. She
stressed that Cuba was making some progress and that it was
time to encourage it.


6. (U) W. Balkans: Rocha said discussion on the Western
Balkans would not be held until June 19.


7. (SBU) Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC): Belgium's
relations were strained recently over a diplomatic dispute
and the closure of two consulates, so Belgium requested that
the agenda include a discussion on the DROC, according to
Rocha. She added that the relations between the DROC and the
EU had worsened over the last year due to Kabila's inability
to improve the security situation, ongoing violence in the
Eastern province, and lackluster cooperation with the EU on
development projects.


8. (C) Georgia: Rocha reported that Solana's recent meeting
with Georgian leaders was tense, as he had pressed the
Georgians to "do their own dirty work" in dealing with the
Russians, but offered no further details.


9. (U) Miscellaneous: The ministers will discuss logistical
details on how best to set up the EU Foreign Service,
including the contributions, integration plans, and number of
seconded participants. Rocha also noted that the meeting
would attempt to coordinate the EU's political representation
at the Olympics this August to ensure some standardization.
She doubted those efforts would be successful.


10. (U) Comment: As a result of Ireland's vote against treaty
ratification last week, Portugal's interest at this GAERC
will be fully on preserving its 2007 EU presidency legacy.
The vote is already being cited as a defeat by opposition
parties, so FM Amado is sure to focus all his attention on
getting the process back on track. End comment.
Stephenson