PORTUGUESE MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR, AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000251 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018 TAGS: PREL ENRG EPET PINR PO IR SUBJECT: PORTUGUESE MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR, AMBASSADOR DISCUSS KOSOVO AND IRAN REF: A) LISBON 238 B) LISBON 183 Classified By: Ambassador Thomas Stephenson for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) . Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During a friendly, one-hour courtesy call at the Foreign Ministry on January 29, MFA political director Bramao Ramos told the Ambassador the EU is about two weeks away from agreement on a public statement to be issued in response to a Kosovo declaration of independence. The statement is intended both to send a message of EU unity and to provide flexibility for member states to devise individual responses at their own pace. The political director believes it is critical that the EU and U.S. issue statements simultaneously; the EU is aiming to act within 24 hours after a Kosovar CDI but may need an additional 24 hours. For its part, Portugal plans immediately to announce its intention to recognize Kosovo; formal recognition would likely follow within a matter of weeks. The Ambassador expressed concern about the Iranian Foreign Minister's visit the week before, particularly indications of expanding collaboration between Portugal's principal oil and gas company, Galp (which is privately owned),and Iran's national oil company. At a time when the international community is trying to increase the pressure on Iran, expanding trade linkages was unlikely to convince Iran to back away from its nuclear ambitions, the Ambassador emphasized. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Ambassador Stephenson paid his initial courtesy call on MFA political director Vasco Bramao Ramos on January 29. He was joined by DCM and polecon counselor. Bramao Ramos was joined by deputy political director for bilateral affairs Jorge Cabral and deputy director of the Americas department Manuel Grainha do Vale. Kosovo -------------- ¶3. (C) After initial pleasantries, Bramao Ramos told the Ambassador he had chaired an EU political directors meeting on Kosovo the day before at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). Participants had focused on managing the EU's response to a Kosovo coordinated declaration of independence (CDI). Although a majority of EU member states "can deal" with a CDI, there are a few countries for whom it will pose significant difficulties, such as "our Spanish friends." Nonetheless, this is the only way and time to proceed, and what the EU is aiming for is a public statement that permits all 27 member states to go as far as each of them can. Such a statement is very important because it sends a strong message of EU unity while providing flexibility to member states. "We are very close" to reaching agreement, perhaps "two weeks away," the political director said. Asked when the ESDP mission would be deployed, Bramao Ramos said almost certainly not prior to a CDI but likely within 120 days thereafter. ¶4. (C) Regarding timing, the EU is looking to respond within 24 hours after a CDI but may need an additional 24 hours to "get its act together," given the internal EU bureaucracy and the difficulty of getting anything vetted and cleared quickly. Asked why such preparations could not be done in advance, Bramao Ramos said the EU cannot prepare a formal response to a situation that "does not yet exist." Pressed on why 48 hours would be significantly better than 24 hours, Bramao Ramos said a day's delay -- if that ultimately proves necessary -- would ensure there is no gap between U.S. and EU announcements. It is "extremely important" that the EU and U.S. act simultaneously. Bramao Ramos said Portugal's own reaction to a CDI would be quick, since no parliamentary action is necessary. The GOP plans to issue a statement right away announcing its intent to recognize, followed by formal recognition within several weeks. ¶5. (C) Noting the "unbelievable proliferation of mosques and madrasas" in Kosovo and Bosnia, Bramao Ramos underscored the importance of undertaking a major effort to boost economic development in those countries, partly in order to reduce the prospects for growth of Islamic fundamentalism. Iran -------------- ¶6. (C) The Ambassador raised the visit to Lisbon the previous week by Iranian FM Mottaki (reftels),expressing his surprise at potentially expanding collaboration between Galp, Portugal's major (private) oil company and Iran's national oil company. It would certainly be helpful in turning up the heat on Tehran if there were fewer such economic linkages LISBON 00000251 002 OF 002 between Europe and Iran. "I know," the political director replied, but pivoted quickly to underscore global unanimity that Iran should not become a nuclear weapon power, while expressing support for Tehran's right to a civilian nuclear program. The Ambassador pressed, noting that UN sanctions have had an important political impact and asserting that reduced trade linkages would strengthen the international community's efforts. The political director refused to be drawn into that, declaring only that the best solution is for Iran to be permitted to build reactors subject to vigorous IAEA scrutiny, while requiring that the enriched fuel be imported. ¶7. (C) Bramao Ramos added his personal view that the best way to prevent Iran from continuing down its current path is for the United States to sit at a negotiating table with Iran. That development would drive Iranians to push their government to back down, Bramao Ramos believed. Secretary Rice has indicated our willingness to do so, the Ambassador pointed out, so long as Iran first suspends its enrichment program. In any event, the more pressure we can all bring to bear on Tehran, the likelier it is that a meeting of that sort would be productive, the Ambassador added. ¶8. (C) The Ambassador asked whether FM Amado had raised the case of missing American citizen Robert Levinson with Mottaki. Bramao Ramos was unsure but promised to inquire when he spoke with Amado later in the day. Bilateral Commission -------------- ¶9. (C) The political director noted the upcoming Bilateral Commission meeting was scheduled for February 21. He was considering recommending changes to the format that would allow more substantial discussion of important issues during the plenary session. The Portuguese side is fleshing out some ideas and would share them with us in advance of the meeting. Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) As usual, Bramao Ramos was both amiable and long-winded, but there was more substantive discussion of issues than we had expected in an initial courtesy call. He provided more concrete detail than usual about how the EU response to a CDI is likely to unfold. Regarding the timing of the EU statement, we would welcome the Department's guidance on how to respond to his point that the EU might need 48 hours rather than 24. Bramao Ramos seemed to believe the multi-layered EU bureaucracy might preclude the production of a fully cleared statement within 24 hours, although it is unclear to us why that ground work cannot be done in advance. Stephenson