Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON2035
2008-08-14 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
TFGG01: AS USUAL, PORTUGAL MILDLY SUPPORTIVE
how-toDana M Brown 08/25/2008 09:47:50 AM From DB/Inbox: POL Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 02035 CXLISBON: ACTION: POL/EC INFO: OPA AMB/DCM ORA DAO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: EXEC:DBALLARD DRAFTED: EXEC:DBALLARD CLEARED: POL/ECON:DBROWN VZCZCLII160 OO RUEHC RUEHXP RUCNMUC RUCNMEM RUEHMO RUEHSI RUEHNO DE RUEHLI #2035 2271554 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141554Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6987 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES IMMEDIATE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0518 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0049 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0602
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002035
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL PHUM OSCE UN GG RS PT
SUBJECT: TFGG01: AS USUAL, PORTUGAL MILDLY SUPPORTIVE
REF: STATE 87254
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. David Ballard. Reasons 1.4, (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002035
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL PHUM OSCE UN GG RS PT
SUBJECT: TFGG01: AS USUAL, PORTUGAL MILDLY SUPPORTIVE
REF: STATE 87254
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. David Ballard. Reasons 1.4, (b)
and (d).
¶1. (C/NF) Charge conveyed points to Diplomatic Advisors to
the Foreign Minister and President. (On some controversial
issues, the Presidency stakes out a position that differs
from the MFA's.)
¶2. (C/NF) MFA: Diplomatic Advisor stated, "We totally share
your concerns about the current state of events and, in
particular, find reports of irregular elements troubling. We
agree that we are witnessing that the peace plan is not being
fully implemented." He said that Minister Amado would attend
next week's NATO meeting because the GOP believed that this
was very much a NATO concern as well as an EU concern.
Despite comments made by the Minister to the media that
Portugal would contribute to the EU peacekeeping mission at
least "symbolically," Dip Advisor said, "We are not sure that
we can contribute peacekeepers, but we will definitely offer
our political support to such a mission."
¶3. (C/NF) Presidency: The Diplomatic Advisor at the
Presidency said that the Presidency did not plan on making
any statements on Georgia and that the MFA was representing
GOP policy. She made it very clear that the President did
not intend to get involved at the current time. (The
President's advisor on parliamentary affairs published an
op-ed column critical of Russia on August 12, but he was
apparently not speaking for the President or the Presidency.)
¶4. (C/NF) Comment: As is always the case in issues
involving Russia, the GOP is very reluctant to be critical in
public and prefers to work within the EU or NATO. There was
some speculation in the media that the President was unhappy
with the MFA's tepid stance on the Russia-Georgia conflict,
but at least for now he is officially declining to say so for
the record. End Comment.
Ballard