Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AU ASEC AE AF AORC AEMR AMGT ABUD AFFAIRS APER AS AMED AY AG AR AJ AL AID AM AODE ABLD AMG AFIN ATRN AGAO AFU AN AA ALOW APECO ADM ARF ASEAN APEC AMBASSADOR AO ASUP AZ AADP ACOA ANET AMCHAMS ACABQ ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG APCS AGMT AINF AIT AORL ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA ADPM AX ADCO AECL AMEX ACAO ASCH AORG AGR AROC ASIG AND ARM AQ ATFN AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE
BL BR BO BA BD BM BK BG BU BB BH BTIO BY BEXP BP BE BRUSSELS BF BIDEN BT BX BC BILAT BN BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CA CASC CVIS CM CH CO CU CD CWC CI CS CY CMGT CF CG CR CB CV CW CE CBW CT CPAS COUNTERTERRORISM CJAN CODEL CIDA CDG CDC CIA CTR CNARC CSW CN CONS CLINTON COE CROS CARICOM CONDOLEEZZA COUNTER CL COM CICTE CIS CFED COUNTRY CJUS CBSA CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CIC CBE CHR CTM CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CACS CAN CITT CARSON CACM CDB CAPC CKGR CBC
DEAX DR DJ DA DEA DOMESTIC DO DK DHS DAO DCM DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD DPRK DEPT DOE DS DE DEFENSE
EC EG EPET ECON ETRD EFIN EIND EMIN ENRG EAID EAGR EUN ETTC EAIR ENIV ES EU EINV ELAB ECIN EFIS ELTN EWWT ECPS ECONOMIC ENGR EN EINT EPA ELN ESA EZ ER ET EFTA EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EXTERNAL EI EUR EK ERNG ENGY ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENERG EINVEFIN ENVR ECA ELECTIONS ETC EUREM ENNP EFINECONCS EURN ECINECONCS EEPET EXIM ERD ENVI ETRC ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EAIG ECONCS ECONOMICS EAP ECONOMY EINN EIAR EXBS ECUN EINDETRD EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC
FR FI FJ FBI FAC FM FO FAO FDA FTAA FARC FTA FREEDOM FISO FOR FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR FINANCE FMLN
GM GG GE GT GR GH GTIP GV GA GOI GAERC GY GOV GERARD GANGS GAZA GTMO GL GF GCC GZ GLOBAL
HA HO HU HUMOR HK HURI HR HEBRON HSTC HILLARY HUMAN HI HYMPSK
IZ IT IR IS IN IC IAEA IO ICAO IWC ID IV ISRAEL IAHRC IQ ICTR IMF IRS IDP IGAD ICRC ICTY IMO IL INRA INRO ICJ ITU IBRD INMARSAT IIP ITALY IEFIN IACI ILO INTELSAT ILC ITRA IDA INRB IRC INTERPOL IA IPR IRAQI ISRAELI INTERNAL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IBET INR IEA IZPREL IRAJ ITF IF
JO JA JM JOHN JP JOSEPH JUS JAMES JOHNNIE
KDEM KU KPAL KNNP KCRM KZ KN KS KJUS KTFN KSCA KV KISL KPAO KPKO KIRF KTIA KIPR KFLO KFRD KTIP KAWC KSUM KCOM KAID KE KTDB KMDR KOMC KWBG KDRG KVPR KTEX KGIC KWMN KSCI KCOR KACT KDDG KHLS KSAF KFLU KSEO KMRS KSPR KOLY KSEP KVIR KGHG KIRC KUNR KIFR KCIP KMCA KMPI KBCT KHSA KICC KIDE KCRS KMFO KRVC KRGY KR KAWK KG KFIN KHIV KBIO KOCI KBTR KNEI KPOA KCFE KPLS KSTC KHDP KPRP KCRCM KLIG KCFC KTER KREC KTBT KPRV KSTH KRIM KRAD KWAC KWMM KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOMS KX KMIG KRCM KVRP KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KNAR KPWR KNPP KDEMAF KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KGIT KPAI KTLA KFSC KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KOM KMOC KJUST KGCC KREL KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KO KNSD KHUM KSEC KCMR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD
LY LH LG LE LO LI LA LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MCAP MPOS MARR MO MNUC MX MASS MG MY MU ML MR MILITARY MTCRE MT MEPP MA MDC MP MAR MASSMNUC MARAD MAPP MZ MD MI MEETINGS MK MCC MEPN MRCRE MAS MIL MASC MC MV MTCR MIK MUCN MEDIA MERCOSUR MW MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MTRE MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS
NO NATO NL NP NZ NSF NI NH NG NAFTA NU NASA NR NATOPREL NSSP NSG NA NT NW NK NPT NPA NATIONAL NPG NSFO NS NSC NE NGO NDP NIPP NRR NEW NZUS NC NAR NV NORAD
OTRA OPCW OVIP OAS OREP OPIC OIIP OPRC ODIP OEXC OPDC OSCE OIC OSCI OECD OFDP OFDA OMIG OPAD OFFICIALS OVP OIE OHUM OCS OBSP OTR OSAC ON OCII OES
PGOV PREL PHUM PTER PINS PINR PREF PK PROP PA PARM PBTS PMAR PM PGIV PE PRAM PHUH PHSA PL PNAT PO PLN PAO PSA PHUMPGOV PF PEL PBIO POLITICS PHUMBA PAS POL PREO PAHO PMIL POGOV POV PAK PNR PRL PG PREFA PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PALESTINIAN PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PROG PORG PTBS PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PY PTERE PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PSEPC PGOVE PINF PNG PGOC PFOR PCUL POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PHUMPREL
QA
RS RU RELATIONS RW RO RM RP ROOD RICE RUPREL RSO RCMP REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RF RFE RSP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT
SU SCUL SNAR SOCI SF SA SHUM SENV SP SR SY SANC SC SMIG SZ SARS SW SEVN SO SEN SL SNARCS SNARN SI SG SN SH SYR SAARC SPCE SHI SCRS SENVKGHG SYRIA SWE STEINBERG SIPRS ST SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SIPDIS SAN
TC TI TBIO TH TSPL TRGY TSPA TPHY TU TW TS TAGS TK TX TNGD TZ TF TL TV TN TD TIP TR TP TO TT TFIN THPY TERRORISM TINT TRSY TURKEY TBID
US UK UNGA UP UZ UNMIK USTR UNO UNSC UN UNESCO UNAUS UNHRC UY UG UNHCR UNCND USOAS USEU UNICEF UNEP UV UNPUOS UNCSD USUN UNCHR UNDC USNC UE UNDP UNC USPS USAID UNVIE UAE UNFICYP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC
VE VT VZ VTIZ VTPREL VAT VC VM VN VTEG VI
WHO WTRO WS WZ WHA WI WMD WHTI WA WTO WMO WBG WITH WIPO WTRQ WFP WWARD WB WEU
XR XM XL XS XW XF XG XT XU XA XK XY XV XB XZ XQ XC XTAG XX XE XD XH XI
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZU ZP ZR ZI ZANU ZL ZF ZJ ZO ZEALAND ZK ZN ZA ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 07LISBON1812, SCENESETTER FOR YOUR VISIT TO PORTUGAL JULY 19-20

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07LISBON1812.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07LISBON1812 | 2007-07-11 18:30 | 2010-12-15 21:30 | SECRET | Embassy Lisbon

`

    VZCZCXRO9656
    PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
    DE RUEHLI #1812/01 1921830
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 111830Z JUL 07
    FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6037
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 001812

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    FOR THE SECRETARY FROM CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ADRIENNE O'NEAL

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
    TAGS: PREL PO
    SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR YOUR VISIT TO PORTUGAL JULY 19-20

    Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Adrienne O'Neal for reasons 1.4 (B) an
    d (D).

    ¶1. (SBU) Madam Secretary:

    Your visit -- at the beginning of Portugal's EU presidency --
    is particularly timely and provides an excellent opportunity
    to try to shape from the outset the Portuguese government's
    priorities in a direction consistent with U.S. interests.

    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.

    ¶3. (SBU) Portugal has provided virtually free access to
    Portuguese air and seaports for military support operations
    in Iraq and Afghanistan, with over three thousand flights 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, Kosovo, Bosnia, and
    Lebanon, and it is a member of the Proliferation Security
    Initiative, the Container Security Initiative, and the Global
    Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.

    EU presidency priorities
    -----------------------------

    ¶4. (C) While agreement on a treaty for EU reform vice a
    Constitution was achieved during the German presidency,
    detailed negotiation and signature of the treaty will fall to
    the Portuguese presidency. This internal EU task will not
    derail Portugal,s external policy goals, but it will absorb
    scarce resources and high-level attention within the
    Portuguese government, ensuring that we will need to motivate
    Portugal on key issues.

    ¶5. (U) Foreign Minister Amado has noted that the EU,s
    biggest foreign policy concern is along its southern and
    southeastern borders, which are threatened by radical Islam
    and poverty. He has proposed strengthening the EU,s ties to
    Washington, Moscow, and Mediterranean countries to help
    contain radical Islam in that region; this strategy includes
    supporting Turkish accession to the EU, involving the EU more
    closely in the Middle East Peace Process, and strengthening
    the EU,s economic and cultural ties to the region through
    the Barcelona Process.

    ¶6. (C) The Portuguese are expected to take a facilitative
    approach, in stark contrast with the aggressive leadership of
    Germany,s presidency. They will seek broad consensus on
    most issues, dedicating their individual efforts to the few
    issues they care about: a strategic partnership with Africa
    and the Middle East processes noted above. Beyond those
    issues, the Portuguese governmental structure is occupied
    with a series of summits with Brazil, India, China, Russia,
    Ukraine, and Africa.

    ¶7. (C) The just completed EU-Brazil Summit was successful in
    establishing a long-term relationship with a significant
    partner and energizing the debate in Europe on biofuels.
    Portuguese interlocutors candidly told us that they did not
    expect much and that the summit was only the first step
    toward an EU-Brazil strategic partnership, but that they were
    delighted with the outcome. We believe this may raise
    Portuguese ambitions for the other summits.

    Suggested areas of focus
    ------------------------

    ¶8. (C) Kosovo: The Portuguese support the Ahtisaari proposal
    but have no alternative to having the Russians on board.
    They have seized on the idea of delaying the introduction of
    a UN Resolution while further talks continue and have no
    plans on how to react if the Kosovars declare independence
    unilaterally. A/S Fried,s July 9 appeal to the Kosovars not
    to do so pleased the Portuguese, but they need to understand
    that leaving Kosovo in limbo is not an option and that the
    Kosovars' patience -- even with US pressure -- is finite.

    ¶9. (C) Russia: Prime Minister Socrates visited Moscow
    recently and was criticized in many quarters for his failure
    to address aggressive behavior against allies Poland and
    Estonia, human rights issues, or Moscow,s penchant for

    LISBON 00001812 002 OF 003

    rhetoric and gamesmanship on energy and security. Indeed,
    Socrates, advisors suggested to us following the trip that
    we needed to tone down our own rhetoric in order to make
    various negotiations more fruitful.

    ¶10. (C) Middle East: The Portuguese believe they have little
    historical baggage in the region and thus can advance
    progress on key issues. They have stressed many times and at
    the highest levels that the Road Map is the way forward, but
    that it needs to be reinvigorated. Foreign Minister Amado
    backed away from the recent Mediterranean FMs, letter to
    Quartet Representative Tony Blair -- which he signed --
    stating that &the Road Map has failed,8 and a senior
    advisor was dismissive of the letter,s text, saying neither
    the EU nor the Portuguese position has changed. Amado has
    traveled extensively to the Middle East and was one of the
    first to call for a special session of EU Foreign Ministers
    at the onset of last summer,s hostilities in Lebanon.
    Portugal was prepared to commit forces to any potential
    peacekeeping force, even before the structure and sponsorship
    of such a force had been established. Portugal eventually
    sent a company of Army engineers to help with reconstruction.
    Amado told us that he sees Iran as the greatest threat since
    WWII, and his ministry has been supportive of tough measures
    in light of Iran's refusal to halt nuclear enrichment.

    ¶11. (C) Afghanistan: Portuguese Special Forces and other
    troops serve without caveat and are engaged in heavy
    fighting. The current company is scheduled to depart in
    February 2008 and replacements have not yet been designated
    or funded. The Portuguese stress that they are with us in
    Afghanistan for the duration of NATO operations, so
    congratulations for their current contributions are in order
    as well as encouragement to continue. Portugal has
    contributed $2 million in assistance; however, they are
    financially over-stretched and have not done more because of
    that.

    ¶12. (C) Iraq: Portugal contributed gendarme trainers for the
    NTM-I police training mission. Portugal recently downsized
    its diplomatic presence in Baghdad because of cost (its
    operations were four times as expensive as any other
    embassy), but let us know far in advance and wanted to
    coordinate what they said publicly as they were sensitive to
    the political ramifications.

    ¶13. (C) Africa: Portugal has a special relationship with
    Africa, particularly with its former colonies. It intends to
    host an EU-Africa Summit, although it has deferred diplomatic
    conflict over the Zimbabwe question, even though the UK, the
    Netherlands, and others may not attend at the head of
    government level should Mugabe attend. Although the
    Portuguese have led the development of an action plan between
    the EU and African Union, the negative ramifications of
    Mugabe's presence in Lisbon could overshadow any
    accomplishments.

    Particular Bilateral Points
    -------------------------------

    ¶14. (SBU) Portugal,s interest in Africa for the EU
    presidency is a good opportunity to underscore the progress
    in US-Portugal cooperation to strengthen security and
    stability in Africa. When Foreign Minister Amado was still
    Defense Minister, he strongly encouraged trilateral
    cooperation between the US, Portugal, and individual African
    countries on security issues in Africa. Since that time, we
    have conducted joint demining training in Guinea-Bissau and
    begun developing an HIV prevention program among African
    armed forces. We hope to include the Portuguese in
    peacekeeping training in Mozambique and Angola under the
    African Contingency Operations training and Assistance
    (ACOTA) program and a joint State-Defense team from
    Washington hopes to visit Lisbon this fall to discuss further
    opportunities.

    ¶15. (S/NF) Amado agreed to allow the repatriation of
    prisoners through Lajes Air Base on a case-by-case basis
    under limited circumstances. This was a difficult decision,
    given the sustained criticism by Portuguese media and leftist
    elements of his own party of the government,s handling of
    the CIA rendition flights controversy. Amado,s agreement
    has never been made public. The Attorney General,s Office
    was forced to review a dossier of news clippings and
    unsubstantiated allegations regarding CIA rendition
    operations through Portugal provided by a member of the
    European Parliament. The AG,s report should be released in
    the very near future. Although we cannot predict its
    conclusions, government insiders and legal scholars have told
    us there was no useful or prosecutable information in the
    dossier.

    LISBON 00001812 003 OF 003

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

    ¶16. (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.

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

    ¶17. (C) You met with Amado last October in Washington and
    have spoken with him in person and on the telephone several
    times since. 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 behind closed doors.

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

    ¶18. (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 all
    military deployments and chairs the Council of State, which
    handles all constitutional issues. Cavaco Silva considers
    former President George H.W. Bush a personal friend, with
    whom he developed a close relationship during his years as
    Prime Minister from 1985-95. The elder President Bush
    attended Cavaco Silva,s presidential inauguration in March
    ¶2006. Cavaco Silva was displeased that he did not get an
    Oval Office meeting with President George W. Bush during his
    recent visit to Washington to open a Smithsonian exhibition
    of Portuguese art, and he declined the former President
    Bush,s offer to visit Kennebunkport.

    Hoffman

`