LISBON SEEKS LOW PROFILE ON RUSSIA, GEORGIA, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002301
C O R R E C T E D COPY- CAPTION ADDED

SIPDIS, NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KV RS PO
SUBJECT: LISBON SEEKS LOW PROFILE ON RUSSIA, GEORGIA, AND
KOSOVO

REF: A. STATE 91894

B. STATE 91908

C. LISBON 1976

Classified By: DEPUTY P-E COUNSELOR TROY FITRELL, REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C/NF) Summary. Post delivered ref demarches on
Russia/Georgia and Kosovo/ICJ. Portugal does not want a
public role in condemning Russia over the conflict in
Georgia. The Portuguese are hoping for a lessening of
current rhetoric in order to put greater emphasis on the Six
Point Plan. Separately, Portugal has not developed a
position on Serbia's call for an ICJ ruling on Kosovar
independence, but hopes for a common EU position. Portugal's
own recognition of Kosovo was promised for the first week of
September. End summary.


2. (C/NF) Portuguese MFA Director for European Affairs
Liliana Mascarenhas Neto told us August 28 that while the
Government of Portugal (GOP) is indeed concerned about
Russian activity in Georgia and opposes Russian recognition
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Ref A),the GOP does not wish
to take a leading or public role. The GOP issued a statement
-- in Portuguese only -- noting that the GOP supports the EU
declaration on the subject and stated that Georgia's
territorial sovereignty has been recognized by the UN, EU,
and OSCE.


3. (C/NF) Mascarenhas said the GOP's efforts were behind
establishing EU solidarity on the issue. She voiced
frustration that certain member state representatives
followed the signature of the Six Point Plan with immediate
trips to the region where they made statements not covered by
the plan. Mascarenhas said the GOP believed there was little
to gain through assigning blame publicly, even though they
knew full well who caused the situation to erupt. She
continued that lessening the rhetoric was the only way to
make the Six Point Plan work.


4. (C/NF) Mascarenhas said the GOP was still developing a
bilateral pledge for humanitarian assistance to Georgia in
addition to its contributions to a broader EU package. She
said the GOP had no plans to contribute troops to an OSCE
mission, but that they were discussing the contribution of
technical staff.


5. (C/NF) Regarding Serbia's call for an International Court
of Justice (ICJ) review of Kosovo's declaration of
independence (Ref B),Mascarenhas said the GOP does not yet
have a position, but noted that the EU would try to develop a
common position. She said the GOP's own recognition of
Kosovo was still in process. Mascarenhas very carefully
specified that the GOP did not draw parallels between
recognizing Kosovo and Abkhazia/South Ossetia; indeed, she
termed the Russian recognition of the latter regions,
"hypocritical."

Comment
--------------

6. (C/NF) Foreign Minister Amado told Ambassador Stephenson
August 7 that Portugal was preparing to recognize Kosovo in
the first week of September (Ref C). We are pressing the GOP
to get this done in time for Secretary Rice's visit September
4-5. The Portuguese have been skittish on Kosovo and the
Georgia conflict is one more issue that might make them
extend their decision-making process, which was earlier
postponed by Russian, Spanish, Kosovar, and Serbian elections.
STEPHENSON