Portugal EUA WikiLeaks Cable Embaixador Hoffman a Condoleezza Rice: "Portugal é um firme aliado"

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Cable do embaixador Hoffman a Condoleezza Rice: "Portugal é um firme aliado"
Alfred Hoffman, embaixador dos EUA em Lisboa, escreve a secretaria de Estado, Condoleezza Rice, faz um grande elogio de Portugal e recorda que o Governo luso abriu o espaço aéreo e marítimo para operações militares de apoio estadounidense no Iraque y Afeganistão

ID:	82694
Date:	2006-10-20 17:13:00
Origin:	06LISBON2366
Source:	Embassy Lisbon
Classification:	SECRET
Dunno:
Destination:	VZCZCXYZ0013 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLI #2366/01 2931713 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 201713Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5281
S E C R E T LISBON 002366 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR THE SECRETARY FROM AMBASSADOR ALFRED HOFFMAN, JR. E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2026 TAGS: MOPS, PGOV, PREL, PO SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR FM AMADO'S OCT 24 MEETING WITH SECRETARY RICE SIPDIS Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary ----------- 1. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Luis Amado's visit with you is part of Portugal's effort to raise its profile in the international arena, particularly in the run-up to its EU Presidency which it will assume in the latter half of 2007. Although Prime Minister Socrates focused primarily on domestic issues during his first year in office, the government has made international engagement a priority since Amado assumed his current position as Foreign Minister in July 2006. Minister Amado will want to discuss Portugal's agenda for its EU Presidency (emphasis on the Middle East and Africa), the US-EU Transatlantic Relationship and the role Portugal plays in it. He will expect you to raise our request to use Lajes AirBase in the Azores to repatriate Guantanamo detainees. The Minister --------------- 2. (C) The superb personal relationship I enjoyed with Amado when he was Defense Minister continues in his current capacity as Foreign Minister. I have found him to be even-tempered (unlike his unpredictable predecessor Diogo Freitas do Amaral), thoughtful and low-key. He is pro-US, committed to a strong NATO and Transatlantic relationship and seeks to coordinate policy with the US. He places great importance on presenting a united public front, whether it be within the EU, NATO or with the US. If there are differences, he prefers to discuss them discreetly behind closed doors. Minister Amado last visited the U.S. in his official capacity of Minister of Defense in November 2005 when he had a personal meeting with Defense Secretary Rumsfield. He is still smarting from being stood up by the NSC - Crouch during last year's visit. It would be to our benefit to stroke him a lot. Portugal - Steadfast Ally ------------------------------ 3. (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. Portugal was an early supporter of US operations in Iraq, hosting the Azores Summit just before the war. It has provided virtually free access to Portuguese air and seaports for flights supporting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with over three thousand flight a year transiting Lajes Air Base in the Azores. Despite severe budgetary constraints, it is engaged internationally on numerous fronts with military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan (where it lost one soldier), East Timor, the Congo, Kosovo, Bosnia and soon Lebanon, and it is member of both the Proliferation Security Initiative and the Security Container Initiative. New Approach to International Engagement ------------------------------------------ 4. (SBU) Minister Amado and other government officials have underscored to me Portugal's desire to influence - not just follow - international policy. He has stated publicly on several occasions the need for Portugal to be engaged globally, not just for the sake of its alliances, but for the country's own safety and security. He first relayed this message late last year when he traveled to Afghanistan as Minister of Defense following the loss of a Portuguese soldier there and has since reaffirmed Portugal,s commitment to the war against terrorism on several occasions. He has taken a pro-active role in the Middle East, particularly during the most recent conflict in Lebanon where he was in the forefront of EU leaders calling for a variety of initiatives to deal with the crisis. He also hopes to host engage more broadly on African issues. The Transatlantic Relationship --------------------------------------- 5. (SBU) Amado is a strong advocate of the Transatlantic relationship. He is looking to fortify engagement between the US and NATO, the EU and Portugal and implement his own brand of "transformational diplomacy" by working with the US in hot spots around the world. He will want to discuss NATO, peacekeeping efforts, and the transformation of the alliance in preparation for the Riga Summit later this year. He will likely reaffirm Portugal's commitment to the fight against terrorism and express disappointment that the U.S. has decided to support Bucharest to host the 2008 Summit instead of Lisbon. On the other hand, he will welcome the recently announced intent to upgrade the NATO Command at Lisbon into a Full Command with responsibility in Africa. EU Presidency ------------------- 6. (C) Minister Amado has told me that Portugal's main foreign policy objectives during its EU Presidency will focus on the Middle East and Africa. Amado has already traveled extensively to the Middle East where he believes Portugal's relationship with the Maghreb states and its position as an honest broker can help move the peace process forward. Amado was one of the first to call for a special session of EU Foreign Ministers at the onset of the summer hostilities in Lebanon, and Portugal is sending a contingent of Army engineers to there later this year to help with reconstruction. Although I have underscored the US position on engagement with Syria on numerous occasions, Amado believes dialogue with Damascus is necessary to resolve the regional conflicts and to isolate Iran. Amado further told me that he sees Iran as the greatest threat since WWII, and his diplomatic advisor confirmed that Amado is pressing for sanctions in light of the failed efforts to halt nuclear enrichment. 7. (SBU) Portugal has a special relationship with Africa, particularly with its former colonies. It would like to host an EU-Africa Summit and is looking at creative solutions to work around the Zimbabwe question. Amado,s diplomatic advisor commented that perhaps locating the summit in Africa rather than in Europe might resolve the thorny issue. Strategic policy issues would include Darfur, energy issues, the fight against poverty and illegal immigration. 8. (SBU) This might be a good opportunity to underscore the need to show progress in US-Portugal cooperation to bring security and stability in Africa. At the Rumsfeld-Amado meeting a year ago, the two sides agreed to focus on working together on security issues in Africa. A variety of US proposals have been explored such as joint training of peacekeepers in Mozambique and Angola, joint training of deminers in Guinea-Bissau, and cooperation in HIV Prevention among African Armed Forces. Unfortunately, we have achieved no forward movement, and we would welcome any specific proposals from the Portuguese side. CIA Flight Inquiry Complicates Gitmo Repatriation Request --------------------------------------------- --------------- 9. (S/NF) Amado has told me that he would like to assist us in our efforts to repatriate Guantanamo detainees through Lajes AirBase. However, given intense CIA Rendition scrutiny and his own party's left wing opposition to his pro-US slant, Amado underscored the need to be on firm legal ground before consenting to do so. Subsequent conversations with MFA staff indicate that Amado is awaiting the US to address his concerns before responding to our request. 10. (S/NF) I would like to underscore the delicate balancing act Amado is confronting in minimizing damage to his government - however unwarranted - due to previous CIA Rendition investigations while trying to convince it to grant our request for access to Lajes AirBase. Unrelenting media and political attacks which have been ongoing for months resulted in an atypical outburst before Portugal's Parliament earlier this week. Amado publicly offered to resign if anyone could prove the government was complicit in an illegal act related to CIA flights on Portuguese territory. It would be of great assistance if you could personally express appreciation for Amado's steadfastness in supporting the US position on this issue and his continued contribution of troops to global operations. Comment ------------ 11. (C) I believe you will find the Minister intelligent, deliberate, and engaging. He will likely raise the possibility of Prime Minister Jose Socrates meeting with President Bush in Washington before Portugal assumes the EU Presidency. I urge you to support this request, and as early as possible, particularly in view of the fact that it was made almost two years ago and that Portugal is now working on the joint EU agenda with Germany and Slovenia. Amado will also be exploring opportunities to invite high level USG officials, including yourself, to Portugal during its EU Presidency and might try to revitalize a BMENA Conference which did not receive an enthusiastic State Department response. Hoffman