PORTUGAL CONCERNED WITH DEA EXPULSION, HOPES EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002728 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL SNAR PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL CONCERNED WITH DEA EXPULSION, HOPES EU CONVINCES GOB TO RECONSIDER REF: SECSTATE 118934 Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Portugal shares U.S. concerns regarding potential increased coca cultivation, drug trafficking, and crime as a result of the GOB's expulsion of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). In response to reftel demarche points, MFA Director for Latin America Joao Baptista told us that Portugal and other EU member states were approving language for a special Troika meeting with Bolivian President Morales. Baptista said the EU Troika would stress the message that the European Union cannot and will not replace the DEA in law enforcement cooperation to combat drug cultivation in Bolivia. He added that, even if it wanted to, the EU could not begin such cooperation until 2011 at the earliest. The EU focus has been to complement US law enforcement cooperation with social programs and alternative cultivation efforts, and "there is no need to fix what isn't broken." Baptista also recommended that the U.S. approach Brazil to encourage Bolivia to rethink its decision. Brazil is in a good position to stress the dangers to neighboring countries and is a more neutral party, he said. ¶2. (C) Baptista displayed genuine concern that the DEA expulsion would directly affect Portugal, which is a major cocaine gateway for Europe. He told us that Bolivia's move could have potentially disastrous effects for former Portuguese colony Guinea-Bissau. He expressed alarm that Portugal's assistance efforts there, which are already viewed as the proverbial finger in a dam would be further undermined by an additional surge of cocaine en route to Europe. Although Portugal does not have a diplomatic mission in La Paz, the Portuguese ambassador in Lima is following this issue closely and encouraging France to take fast action on behalf of the EU. BALLARD