Cablegate: Portugal Likely to Abstain On Unga Resolutions

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DE RUEHLI #3071 3371545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031545Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6463
INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0256
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0103
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0549
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1511

UNCLAS LISBON 003071

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SIPDIS

IO/UNP MCLINN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL LIKELY TO ABSTAIN ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS
WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS

REF: SECSTATE 159386

Pol-Econ officer met with MFA International Affairs Officer
Joao Mora to urge Portugal to oppose, or at least abstain, in
votes on this year's UNGA resolutions with an anti-Israel
bias. Mora acknowledged that Portugal had similar concerns
regarding biased draft resolutions and agreed to distribute
the points with Portugal's representatives in Geneva, New
York, and Washington. Nevertheless, Mora cautioned that, as
EU President, Portugal would vote in keeping with the EU
consensus opinion and therefore was likely to abstain again
during this year's votes rather than oppose the measures.

Ballard

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