Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON2719
2008-11-20 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
how-toVZCZCXRO5400 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #2719 3250756 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 200756Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7173 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0158 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0607 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1544 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002719
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PO
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM LAVROV VISITS PORTUGAL
REF: LISBON 2708
Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002719
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PO
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM LAVROV VISITS PORTUGAL
REF: LISBON 2708
Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (SBU) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stopped in
Portugal on November 18 while returning from the G-20
meetings in Washington. In Lisbon he met with Portuguese
Foreign Minister Luis Amado after which the two gave a joint
press conference. Publicly, Lavrov confirmed Moscow's plans
to initiate talks on a new European security architecture,
saying "the problem of Euro-Atlantic security is common to
all the countries in the European region and needs to be
assessed by all European countries". Amado was receptive,
saying, "I want to express interest and sympathy for the
proposal of a new European security architecture" and
emphasized "the importance of ending the cycle of the Cold
War and the Soviet Union". Amado added "the debate over the
general conditions of European security cannot exclude
Russia", and said he is "satisfied" with the Nice summit and
with the "real capacity for cooperation demonstrated in
Washington" (at the G-20).
2. (C) One of FM Amado's senior advisors told us afterward
that in their private conversation, Lavrov told Amado he was
upbeat about the outcome of the EU/Russia Summit in Nice, and
he expressed Moscow's intent to provide more details on the
European security proposal during the OSCE Ministerial in
Helsinki in early December. Lavrov discussed "format" with
Amado rather than substantive details, the advisor told us,
saying Moscow is preparing a detailed paper for distribution
in Helsinki and wants the Ministerial to be a "first
substantive discussion" rather than a drafting exercise.
Lavrov explained that Russia will also propose a follow-up
security-related summit for 2009 that will include existing
transatlantic institutions.
3. (C) According to the advisor, Lavrov and Amado also
touched briefly on Iran, Iraq security, and the Quartet's
Middle East peace efforts, including a review of the proposal
to hold a UNSC Ministerial to register support for the
Annapolis process and to create a "bridge" to the new US and
Israeli administrations next year.
4. (SBU) On a bilateral level, Lavrov and Amado agreed to
intensify bilateral high-level dialogue and commercial links
in 2009, and Amado noted that the president of the Portuguese
Investment Agency will visit Moscow in December in hopes of
increasing investment and tourism. Lavrov announced that
Amado has accepted his offer to visit Moscow next year.
5. (C) COMMENT. As noted reftel, Portugal can be more "soft
on Russia" than we would like, for reasons having to do with
economic self-interest and its view of Portuguese diplomacy
in the world; this meeting was no exception. Portuguese MFA
PolDir Nuno Brito has offered to provide a readout of the
Lavrov visit at the Bilateral Commission meetings in
Washington this Friday.
STEPHENSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR PO
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM LAVROV VISITS PORTUGAL
REF: LISBON 2708
Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR RICHARD REITER FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (SBU) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stopped in
Portugal on November 18 while returning from the G-20
meetings in Washington. In Lisbon he met with Portuguese
Foreign Minister Luis Amado after which the two gave a joint
press conference. Publicly, Lavrov confirmed Moscow's plans
to initiate talks on a new European security architecture,
saying "the problem of Euro-Atlantic security is common to
all the countries in the European region and needs to be
assessed by all European countries". Amado was receptive,
saying, "I want to express interest and sympathy for the
proposal of a new European security architecture" and
emphasized "the importance of ending the cycle of the Cold
War and the Soviet Union". Amado added "the debate over the
general conditions of European security cannot exclude
Russia", and said he is "satisfied" with the Nice summit and
with the "real capacity for cooperation demonstrated in
Washington" (at the G-20).
2. (C) One of FM Amado's senior advisors told us afterward
that in their private conversation, Lavrov told Amado he was
upbeat about the outcome of the EU/Russia Summit in Nice, and
he expressed Moscow's intent to provide more details on the
European security proposal during the OSCE Ministerial in
Helsinki in early December. Lavrov discussed "format" with
Amado rather than substantive details, the advisor told us,
saying Moscow is preparing a detailed paper for distribution
in Helsinki and wants the Ministerial to be a "first
substantive discussion" rather than a drafting exercise.
Lavrov explained that Russia will also propose a follow-up
security-related summit for 2009 that will include existing
transatlantic institutions.
3. (C) According to the advisor, Lavrov and Amado also
touched briefly on Iran, Iraq security, and the Quartet's
Middle East peace efforts, including a review of the proposal
to hold a UNSC Ministerial to register support for the
Annapolis process and to create a "bridge" to the new US and
Israeli administrations next year.
4. (SBU) On a bilateral level, Lavrov and Amado agreed to
intensify bilateral high-level dialogue and commercial links
in 2009, and Amado noted that the president of the Portuguese
Investment Agency will visit Moscow in December in hopes of
increasing investment and tourism. Lavrov announced that
Amado has accepted his offer to visit Moscow next year.
5. (C) COMMENT. As noted reftel, Portugal can be more "soft
on Russia" than we would like, for reasons having to do with
economic self-interest and its view of Portuguese diplomacy
in the world; this meeting was no exception. Portuguese MFA
PolDir Nuno Brito has offered to provide a readout of the
Lavrov visit at the Bilateral Commission meetings in
Washington this Friday.
STEPHENSON