PORTUGAL ON 64TH UNGA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 000495

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA XA XB XD XF XG XS XM XL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON 64TH UNGA GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

REF: STATE 90254

Classified By: Mario Fernandez, Pol-Econ Officer,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Poleconoff delivered reftel points on
September 4 to Goncalo Silvestre of the Portuguese MFA
Directorate for International Organizations and discussed the
points further on September 11 with Joao Ribeiro de Almeida,
Portugal's MFA Director for Common Foreign and Security
Policy and European Correspondent. Ribeiro confirmed that
the Portuguese delegation to the 64th UNGA would focus on
nonproliferation and disarmament as it relates to Iran and
peacekeeping and conflict management as it relates to
Afghanistan. End Summary.


2. (C) Nonproliferation and Disarmament: At the outset,
Ribeiro stated that the UNGA was the proper venue to address
Iran's nuclear program but expressed concern that Iran would
continue to use delaying tactics during the event. He
lamented that, despite significant international efforts,
there had been no major breakthroughs thus far and maintained
that Iran needed to see consequences of the lack of progress.
He opined that it was essential for China and Russia to
endorse sanctions. At the same time, he voiced his personal
belief that Russia would be difficult to persuade and China
appeared to have no interest in the issue. Ribeiro noted
that the EU was considering imposing independent sanctions on
Iran, though the precise nature of those sanctions had yet to
be "studied" and probably would not take place before the end
of the year, after the international community had redoubled
its efforts in September and October. He concluded by saying
that Portugal was supportive of multilateral efforts to
address Iran's nuclear program. If those efforts did not
succeed, "as we fully expect," however, Portugal would
support "autonomous" EU sanctions.


3. (C) Peacekeeping and Conflict Management: Ribeiro
acknowledged that the Afghan elections represented an
important step towards democracy. He immediately added,
however, that perhaps the real lesson of the elections was
that significant challenges remained ahead. Noting that the
Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) had found "clear
evidence" of fraud in the elections, he expressed his belief
that the EU should lend "visible support" to the ECC's call
for a recount in certain areas. However, Ribeiro
acknowledged that the situation was still in flux and issues
could only be addressed after the vote count was completed.
He underscored that the international community should not
yet discuss "exit strategies" but only "transitional
strategies." He concluded that the EU should not lose sight
of the goal in Afghanistan, which he characterized as
"ensuring stability, instituting governance, and promoting
rule of law."


For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal,
please see our Intelink site:

http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal
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