Cablegate: Portugal Confirms Support for Gaer, Requests Us Backing For

VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #2621 2881107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151107Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6351
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1494

UNCLAS LISBON 002621

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

Department for IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: NA
TAGS: PREL UN PO
SUBJECT: Portugal Confirms Support for Gaer, Requests US Backing for
UNSC Seat 2011-2012

1. (U) Following the informal notification on October 9, Portugal
forwarded a diplomatic note, dated October 10 noting that it had
voted in favor of the U.S. candidate for the UN Committee Against
Torture. The note then goes on to solicit U.S. support for
Portugal's candidacy for the UN Security Council in 2011-2012.

2. (SBU) Begin informal translation of Portuguese dipnote:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its highest compliments to
the Embassy of the United States of America in Lisbon and hereby
congratulates the United States on its election to the Committee
Against Torture (CAT).

Given the excellent relations between Portugal and the United
States, in particular the mutual exchange of support for the
international candidacies of both countries, and noting the
individual merits of the candidates, Portugal informs the United
States that it supported the U.S. candidate for the Committee
Against Torture.

Portugal is confident that, with this additional demonstration of
support for U.S. candidates, it will be possible to further
reinforce the already excellent bilateral relationship in this
field. To that end, we reaffirm Portugal's candidacy for a seat on
the United Nations Security Council (2011-2012) and hope that we can
count on the support of the United States.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to reiterate
to the U.S. Embassy the assurances of its highest consideration.

End informal translation.

3. (SBU) Comment: Portugal began to ramp up its lobbying efforts in
early October anticipating that the competition will be fierce, with
two other Western Group countries competing with Portugal for two
seats. (Portugal announced its candidacy in 2001.) In conversations
at the working level, we reiterated longstanding U.S. policy that we
do not reveal in advance U.S. voting intentions.

HOFFMAN

© Scoop Media