PORTUGAL URGES EU TO ACCEPT GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 002769

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL PREF PO CU
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL URGES EU TO ACCEPT GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

Classified By: DEPUTY POL/ECON COUNSELOR TROY FITRELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (
b, d)


1. (U) Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado sent the letter
below to his European Union counterparts December 10 calling
for an EU response to help the U.S. close the Guantanamo
detention center, specifically by accepting detainees for
resettlement.

(U) Begin text of letter:

Lisbon, 10 December 2008
As we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the international community is
faced with difficult questions regarding the fight against
terrorism and, among them, the issues posed by the existence
of the Guantanamo Detention Centre.

As you recall, we undertook a reflection on the future of the
transatlantic relations that produced an important policy
toolbox. There has been a clear consensus throughout on the
need to close this Detention Centre. The policy paper we
adopted in Marseille clearly puts an emphasis on urging the
US and the EU "to act together more in the Human Rights
field, which would prove easier with the closure of the
Guantanamo Detention camp".

I believe that Europe should draw the necessary conclusions
from the debates held so far, both at the political and legal
expert levels, as well as from the stated and welcome
intentions of the incoming U.S. Administration. We have made
significant progress in finding a common legal platform, and
we must also acknowledge, in that regard, the more
constructive attitude displayed by the U.S. Department of
State.
The time has come for the European Union to step forward. As
a matter of principle and consistency, we should send a clear
signal of our willingness to help the U.S. Government in that
regard, namely through the resettlement of detainees. As far
as the Portuguese Government is concerned, we will be
available to participate.

Building upon the work already carried out by the French
Presidency, I propose that this specific issue be taken up by
GAERC.

Please accept, dear colleague, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Luis Amado
Minister of State and Foreign Affairs

End text.

COMMENT
--------------

2. (C) Amado's chief advisor, Paulo Lourenco, told us today
that the letter is a "long overdue" initiative. Ever since
Portugal's 2007 EU presidency, FM Amado has focused his
energies on strengthening the transatlantic relationship
(including writing the Marseille paper mentioned above),and
this letter is a manifestation of that interest. Lourenco
noted that the detainee issue is highly charged within the EU
and is seen has having damaged the transatlantic
relationship. He noted, as an example, the continued
interest by the European Parliament and the tabloid press
into detainee and rendition flights, which can discomfit
European governments. FM Amado, said Lourenco, sees the U.S.
transition as an ideal time to prod the EU to help the U.S.
make progress on Guantanamo and thus to "renovate the
transatlantic relationship". He noted that the MFA has
already received praise for the initiative, including from
human rights organizations normally critical on the
Guantanamo issue.


3. (C) When asked about next steps, Lourenco confessed that
the Portuguese MFA has not yet worked up the details of the
proposal, but sees the heavy lifting being done at the EU
level. Amado's letter was designed to publicly kickstart the
EU, through the GAERC, to develop an agreed "framework
policy" on Guantanamo. Portugal has made its decision and
will be available to accept some detainees, he confirmed.
Lourenco commented that the EU's thinking will build upon
work already started in Brussels in discussions with State

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Department Legal Advisor Bellinger. To that end, he added, a
visit to Brussels and European capitals by Bellinger and/or
S/WCI Clint Williamson --perhaps on the margins of the
January GAERC-- would be a useful way for the U.S. to engage.
STEPHENSON