Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON221
2008-01-25 17:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGUESE VIEWPOINTS IN ADVANCE OF JANUARY 28-29
how-toVZCZCXRO1496 PP RUEHAG RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #0221 0251741 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251741Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6598 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0043 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0059
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000221
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PO EUN
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWPOINTS IN ADVANCE OF JANUARY 28-29
GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 7679
Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000221
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PO EUN
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWPOINTS IN ADVANCE OF JANUARY 28-29
GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 7679
Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha responded
to the reftel points with Portugal's views in advance of the
GAERC meeting on January 28 and 29. She offered frank
insights into the internal EU discussions on Kosovo, Iran,
Kenya, and on the new practice of "restricted sessions."
2. (C) Kosovo: Rocha acknowledged U.S. concerns regarding
delaying Kosovo's declaration of independence but confided
that Spain had urged other Member States to delay recognition
until after the Spanish elections on March 9. She said the
meeting and draft conclusions would focus on Serbia's
relationship with Europe and the need for Belgrade to
cooperate with the ICTY.
3. (C) Iran: Rocha stressed that Portugal stood ready to
impose a new round of sanctions in conjunction with EU
partners. Nevertheless, she predicted that the EU would wait
until the UN resolution was approved and ElBaradei reported
his findings in March before taking action.
4. (C) Kenya: Europe was divided over how best to respond to
Kenya's political crisis, according to Rocha. She mentioned
that Portugal resisted a proposal by the Commission and some
Member States to send a Special Envoy to Nairobi. Portugal
supports discussions with the African Union and with
neighboring nations, and believes that adding a European
Special Envoy would send the wrong message, specifically that
Europe does not trust Africa to solve its own challenges.
5. (C) Restricted formats: Rocha noted concern over the
recent closed door meetings on Kosovo and ECOFIN that had
excluded several member states, such as Portugal. Although
she acknowledged that it was difficult to reach consensus on
sensitive policy issues, she stressed that Slovenia was the
first Council president that had used the restricted
meetings, seemingly to limit dissent. She expressed her hope
that the format would be used sparingly and be eliminated by
the end of Slovenia's term.
Stephenson
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PO EUN
SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE VIEWPOINTS IN ADVANCE OF JANUARY 28-29
GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 7679
Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha responded
to the reftel points with Portugal's views in advance of the
GAERC meeting on January 28 and 29. She offered frank
insights into the internal EU discussions on Kosovo, Iran,
Kenya, and on the new practice of "restricted sessions."
2. (C) Kosovo: Rocha acknowledged U.S. concerns regarding
delaying Kosovo's declaration of independence but confided
that Spain had urged other Member States to delay recognition
until after the Spanish elections on March 9. She said the
meeting and draft conclusions would focus on Serbia's
relationship with Europe and the need for Belgrade to
cooperate with the ICTY.
3. (C) Iran: Rocha stressed that Portugal stood ready to
impose a new round of sanctions in conjunction with EU
partners. Nevertheless, she predicted that the EU would wait
until the UN resolution was approved and ElBaradei reported
his findings in March before taking action.
4. (C) Kenya: Europe was divided over how best to respond to
Kenya's political crisis, according to Rocha. She mentioned
that Portugal resisted a proposal by the Commission and some
Member States to send a Special Envoy to Nairobi. Portugal
supports discussions with the African Union and with
neighboring nations, and believes that adding a European
Special Envoy would send the wrong message, specifically that
Europe does not trust Africa to solve its own challenges.
5. (C) Restricted formats: Rocha noted concern over the
recent closed door meetings on Kosovo and ECOFIN that had
excluded several member states, such as Portugal. Although
she acknowledged that it was difficult to reach consensus on
sensitive policy issues, she stressed that Slovenia was the
first Council president that had used the restricted
meetings, seemingly to limit dissent. She expressed her hope
that the format would be used sparingly and be eliminated by
the end of Slovenia's term.
Stephenson