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### Viewing cable 08LISBON2300, SCENESETTER FOR YOUR VISIT TO PORTUGAL, SEPTEMBER

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08LISBON2300 | 2008-08-29 14:02 | 2010-12-12 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Lisbon

`

    VZCZCXRO1741
    PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
    DE RUEHLI #2300/01 2421421
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 291421Z AUG 08
    FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7007
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY
    RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 002300

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    FOR THE SECRETARY FROM AMBASSADOR THOMAS STEPHENSON

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2018
    TAGS: OTRA PREL PO
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR YOUR VISIT TO PORTUGAL, SEPTEMBER
    5-6

    Classified By: Amb. Thomas F. Stephenson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (SBU) Madam Secretary:

    Your visit is scheduled to coincide with two important
    Portuguese foreign policy moments ) recognition of Kosovo
    and Portugal leading discussion on the EU's trans-Atlantic
    policy. This is an opportune moment to stress that the US
    and EU generally share goals and to call for an even closer
    working relationship going forward.

    Portugal - Steadfast Ally
    -------------------------

    ¶2. (SBU) Portugal, a founding member of NATO, is a steadfast
    ally who has consistently stood by our side over the years
    despite various changes in government. The President and
    Prime Minister -- from opposing political parties -- each
    regularly stress that trans-Atlantic relations are a pillar
    of Portuguese foreign policy and that NATO is the primary
    guarantor of European security. Portugal is also a member of
    the Proliferation Security Initiative, the Container Security
    Initiative, and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
    Terrorism.

    ¶3. (SBU) The Portuguese military is engaged internationally
    on numerous fronts. Portugal supports NATO efforts in Iraq
    (6 soldiers), Kosovo (295), and Afghanistan (15 in place and
    42 new this week), as well as UN missions in Lebanon (146),
    Kosovo (2), and East Timor (164). Portugal participates in
    EUFOR missions in Bosnia (14), and the DR Congo (2) and sends
    85 people to support bilateral cooperation in five Lusophone
    African nations.

    ¶4. (SBU) The Portuguese government provides liberal access to
    Portuguese air and seaports for U.S. military operations in
    support of Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the past year, more
    than 2,100 U.S. military aircraft have overflown Portuguese
    controlled airspace and 1,560 have transited through Lajes
    Air Base, the joint USAF-Portuguese base in the Azores.

    Suggested Areas of Focus
    ------------------------

    ¶5. (C) Kosovo: The Portuguese supported the Ahtisaari Plan
    and encouraged EU member states to prepare for the move, but
    then unexpectedly postponed their own recognition of Kosovo.
    FM Luis Amado recently confided that the main reason behind
    the delay was Portugal's interest in maintaining a good
    relationship with Serbia, which became stronger during
    Portugal's EU presidency. Amado has indicated that Portugal
    is ready to recognize Kosovo during September before UNGA.

    ¶6. (C) Georgia/Russia: As always with Russia, the GOP is
    reluctant to be critical in public and prefers to work within
    the EU or NATO. There was some speculation in the media that
    President Cavaco Silva was unhappy with the MFA's tepid
    stance on the Russia-Georgia conflict, but he is not saying
    so for the record. Portugal is likely to quietly follow, not
    lead, EU consensus. In its capacity as Chair of the
    Community of Democracies, Portugal has drafted a statement
    calling for both parties to abide by the cease-fire, along
    the lines of the EU statement released on August 13.

    ¶7. (C/NF) AFRICOM: Portugal is interested in hosting an
    AFRICOM headquarters and has asked to be included in the
    DoD's candidate nation list, based on its historic ties to
    Africa, its low cost relative to other European nations, and
    its proximity. It is also the only candidate nation with a
    foreign-owned base up for consideration, causing concerns
    that a public leak could lead to misunderstandings, both in
    the U.S. and in Europe. The USG will send a representative
    in early September to Portugal to assess discreetly its
    viability to host AFRICOM or one of its components.

    ¶8. (C) US-EU Trans-Atlantic Relationship: FM Amado will lead
    the Gymnich discussion on September 5 and 6 on how to improve
    US-EU ties during the next U.S. administration, as well as
    enhance the US-EU dialogue on third country initiatives.

    ¶9. (C) Afghanistan: In August, Portugal rotated 163 Special
    Forces out of Afghanistan, leaving a 15-person OMLT and a
    42-person C-130 detachment in theatre. The Portuguese have
    promised to deploy a second 30-person OMLT later this year.
    Days after the withdrawal, Amado privately stressed to the
    Ambassador his personal opposition to the move and claimed
    that President Cavaco Silva had been the main proponent for
    drawing down the troops. He added that he was in favor of

    LISBON 00002300 002 OF 003

    rotating Special Forces back into theatre soon, which Cavaco
    Silva has left open as a future possibility.

    ¶10. (C/NF) Enhanced Bilateral Relationships on Energy: Over
    the last several months, the GOP has made an effort to
    strengthen its bilateral commercial relationship with
    energy-producing nations Venezuela and Libya. At the same
    time, Portugal's major energy company, Galp, has made
    commercial overtures to secure energy contracts in Iran. In
    response to the latter, we successfully pressed the MFA and
    Galp executives to back away from dealings with Iran and
    reiterated the need for a unified international front on
    sanctions. Nevertheless, the GOP is moving forward with
    energy partnerships elsewhere, and signed 39 new development
    and food-for-oil agreements with Venezuela, as well as an
    infrastructure for energy MOU with Libya. Portugal's
    relationship with Venezuela has historically centered around
    the roughly 500,000 Portuguese nationals resident in
    Venezuela; this energy agenda is new. Portugal does not have
    an established relationship with Libya and is attempting to
    catch up with other international investors.

    ¶11. (SBU) Lajes Wage Increase: The bilateral Cooperation and
    Defense Agreement with Portugal requires that the U.S. Air
    Force conduct an annual civilian wage survey to set the
    salary increase rates for the Portuguese employees. Over the
    past three years, the Portuguese have disputed the wage
    increase offered, stating that the wage survey called for
    more. Rep. Barney Frank proposed legislation that would
    remove the requirement for the wage survey by substituting
    language in the bilateral agreement, thereby resolving the
    issue in future years. In exchange for the new language, the
    Portuguese employees would be given a one-time settlement to
    cover the difference between the wage survey rate and the
    actual increase distributed in 2006 and 2007. The bill is in
    the Defense Appropriations Committee, and we do not expect
    further action until the fall. This would appear to be a
    minor issue, yet if often comes up in discussions at the
    highest levels.

    Foreign Minister Amado
    ----------------------

    ¶12. (C) You last met with Amado at the August 19 special
    session at NATO. He has been a great friend of the US, both
    in his previous capacity as Minister of Defense and now as
    Foreign Minister. He is even-tempered, thoughtful, and
    low-key, and regularly seeks opportunities to coordinate
    policy with the US. He places great importance on presenting
    a united public front, whether within the EU, NATO or with
    the US. If there are differences, he prefers to discuss them
    discreetly.

    Prime Minister Socrates
    -----------------------

    ¶13. (C) Socrates is a telegenic and charismatic leader, who
    worked hard to improve his English in advance of the EU
    presidency. He relies on advice from a small circle of
    advisors. He is a very moderate Socialist who has been
    successful at co-opting or marginalizing the leftists in his
    party. He also aggressively pursued his domestic agenda
    before assuming the EU presidency, achieving difficult labor
    and social security reforms and reducing Portugal's budget
    deficit to near EU-mandated levels. Socrates visited
    President Bush last September to discuss EU presidency and
    bilateral issues. He has recently been under pressure in the
    national press for strengthening ties to Angola, Libya, and
    Venezuela in order to bolster Portugal's energy sources and
    export markets.

    President Cavaco Silva
    ----------------------

    ¶14. (C) Cavaco Silva is the most popular politician in
    Portugal, even though his center-right party badly trails
    Socrates' Socialist Party in polls. Although the Portuguese
    presidency does not wield the executive power of the US
    presidency, the position is not ceremonial. Cavaco Silva is
    commander in chief of the armed forces and must approve
    military deployments and he chairs the Council of State,
    which handles all constitutional issues. Cavaco Silva
    considers former President George H.W. Bush a personal
    friend. Cavaco Silva was displeased that he did not get an
    Oval Office meeting with President George W. Bush during his
    2007 visit to Washington to open a Smithsonian exhibition of
    Portuguese art, and he declined the former President Bush's
    offer to visit Kennebunkport. Portuguese Embassy officials

    LISBON 00002300 003 OF 003

    and some of our interlocutors here have suggested that
    Portugal's delay in recognizing Kosovo and decision to remove
    troops from Afghanistan was tied to Cavaco Silva's pique over
    the perceived slight.
    STEPHENSON

`