Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON327
2008-02-08 16:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
DEMARCHE REQUEST: PORTUGUESE SUPPORT FOR LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXRO3468 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLI #0327 0391658 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081658Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6618 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
---------
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
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