DEMARCHE REQUEST: PORTUGUESE SUPPORT FOR LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000327 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM EFIN EINV LE SY PO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: PORTUGUESE SUPPORT FOR LEBANON REF: STATE 10786 Classified By: political/economic counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). Tribunal -------------- ¶1. (C) Pol/econ counselor delivered reftel talking points and note verbale to MFA Middle East Director Isabel Pedrosa on February 7. Pedrosa said Portugal is "very much in tune" with U.S. priorities in Lebanon. She agreed on the importance of getting the Tribunal up and running and has recommended to her minister that Lisbon make a financial contribution. She believed the GOP will contribute, but the amount is likely to be symbolic rather than substantial, given Portugal's serious budget constraints. Pol/econ counselor emphasized the symbolic importance of February 14, but Pedrosa was uncertain whether a final decision would be made by then. Military and economic assistance -------------- ¶2. (C) Regarding provision of military assistance, Isabel noted that Portugal maintains a 145-soldier contingent as part of UNIFIL, and said they would remain in place until at least September 2007. FM Amado remains strongly committed to Portugal's efforts there, but budget constraints made additional financial assistance to the LAF and ISF unlikely. The same held true regarding the need for economic assistance to the Siniora government. Portugal pledged 500,000 dollars at the Paris donors conference but it would likely not be in a position to contribute more at this point. Diplomatic support -------------- ¶3. (C) Portugal has regularly backed strong public EU statements in support of the Siniora government and would continue to do so (while Lisbon is not likely to speak out bilaterally). Pedrosa added that Portugal supports the Arab League's effort to broker a compromise, although that initiative looked "doomed to failure." Pressure on Syria -------------- ¶4. (C) Pedrosa said the EU seemed at a loss as to how to proceed with Syria. She reiterated the preference of EU members for engagement rather than isolation -- believing it important to deliver tough messages face-to-face -- but she acknowledged that that approach had failed to elicit more constructive behavior by Syria. Pol/econ counselor underscored that the recent visit of the Dutch foreign minister had been followed shortly thereafter by the detentions and arrests of Riad Seif and other prominent advocates of democratic reform. Pedrosa said she was not aware of any planned travel to Damascus by senior Portuguese officials, or of SARG representatives contemplating visits to Lisbon. Stephenson