Cablegate: Portugal Confirms Support for U.S. Imo Candidate: Again

VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #3088 3391336
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051336Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6471
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1512

UNCLAS LISBON 003088

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NOFORN

Department for IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: NA
TAGS: PREL UN PO
SUBJECT: Portugal Confirms Support for U.S. IMO Candidate: Again
Requests US Backing for UNSC Seat

REF: Lisbon 2621

1. (U) On December 3, Portugal forwarded a diplomatic note, dated
November 28, noting its support for the U.S. election to the
International Maritime Organization as a Class A country. As with
the reftel dipnote, the MFA once again drew a connection between
Portuguese support in international fora and 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 and has the honor of
congratulating the American government on its election to the
Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as a
"category A" member state, a victory which was in part supported by
Portugal's vote.

Recalling the regular, uncompensated support that Portugal has
offered in the past to numerous (18) American candidates, the
Ministry is confident that it will soon be able to count on a
confirmation of support from America for Portugal's candidacy for a
non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council
(2011-2012).

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

Lisbon, November 28, 2007

End informal translation.

3. (SBU) Comment: This is the second recent instance in which the
Portuguese have explicitly linked in a diplomatic note their support
for a U.S. candidate for an international organization to Portugal's
candidacy for a UN Security Council seat in 2011-2012. Although our
conversations have so far been limited to the working level, we
suspect this issue will soon become a regular talking point for more
senior Portuguese government officials. In the meantime, we will
continue to reiterate that we do not reveal U.S. voting intentions
for these elections.

STEPHENSON

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