VZCZCXRO5057
OO RUEHDT
DE RUEHLI #1289/01 1801725
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291725Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4934
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0532
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0368
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 0037
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0134
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1446

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 001289 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV UN TT PO
SUBJECT: MFA CRAVINHO VISIT TO TIMOR URGES COMMUNICATION 
 
 
Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon, State. 
Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Portuguese Deputy Foreign Minister Joao Gomes 
Cravinho and his advisor Diogo Franco traveled to East Timor 
on a bilateral mission from June 25-28.  Franco provided a 
readout to Emboffs on June 29, stressing that the visit had 
been positive in spite of the unexpected resignations. 
Franco voiced Portugal's view that the international 
community should help East Timor through the crisis together 
and must rethink its original strategy from 1999.  Cravinho 
met with President Gusmao, former PM Alkatiri, Ramos Horta, 
Australian Ambassador to Timor Twomey, and UN Representative 
Ian Martin to press the same message: East Timor leaders need 
to speak with one voice and the international community 
should respond with a multilateral force under UN control as 
soon as possible.  End summary. 
 
Bilateral Visit to Urge Communication 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Cravinho's visit had been planned as a way for 
Portugal to meet with Timorese interlocutors and to discuss 
the progress of the Portuguese National Republican Guard 
(GNR) and urge communication between Timorese leaders. 
Franco noted that other nations in the Australian-led Joint 
Forces had traveled to East Timor to urge calm and discuss 
their presence in a similar fashion, but that given 
Portugal's distance, the initial focus was on getting the GNR 
forces in place, confirming logistical coordination, and 
finally making the trip to East Timor.  Franco said the 
timing, which overlapped with the Alkatiri and Ramos Horta 
resignations, was coincidental.  He was careful to note that 
Portugal does not favor one Timorese faction and was not 
visiting to either protest or support Alkatiri's resignation. 
 Nevertheless, Cravinho took the opportunity to underscore 
the importance of communication and cooperation in the wake 
of the latest crisis. 
 
Portugal Calls for a Unified Timorese Voice 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Cravinho's meetings included talks with President 
Gusmao, former PM Alkatiri, Fretilin party leaders, and 
former FM Ramos Horta, in which he pressed for a consensus on 
the new UN mission.  Franco commented that Portugal was 
frustrated with the Timorese efforts to pit international 
agencies and forces against one another for partisan ends. 
"Portugal has no strategic agenda in East Timor, but we do 
want to see them resolve their internal conflict and 
consolidate their democracy," according to Franco.  He added 
that the United Nations needed to have a clear message from 
East Timor about its requirements so that other nations did 
not attempt to "take over." 
 
¶4. (C) Cravinho and Franco met with UN Representative Ian 
Martin.  They told Martin that Portugal believes the UN 
mission would have to be significantly different than the 
1999 mission.  "The last mission left too soon and did not 
have enough institutional support."  Franco reiterated the 
same message we have heard from other GOP interlocutors -- 
Portugal seeks a robust UN mission for the next 2-5 years. 
Franco mentioned that the UN engagement in East Timor should 
be rethought to ensure an ultimate success story, but stopped 
short of offering more detail.  (Comment: GOP officials have 
stressed the robust mission message but have so far shied 
away from details on their vision for the mission, stressing 
the need to defer to Timorese preferences.) 
 
Cooperation with Australia Working 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Franco related the highlights of Cravinho's meeting 
with Australia's Ambassador to East Timor.  Franco reported 
that the meeting had been cordial and that the two countries' 
troops are working together successfully.  Cravinho had 
intended to travel to Canberra personally to meet Prime 
Minister Howard but met the Ambassador since Howard is in 
Europe.  Cravinho told Ambassador Twomey that he had heard 
rumors that Portugal backed Alkatiri and replied that such 
accusations were "absurd."  He said Portugal is not 
attempting to back Alkatiri any more than Australia was 
backing Gusmao.  Franco said Cravinho had been satisfied with 
the meeting but considered Australia's plans to depart by 
December unrealistic since East Timor will clearly require 
dedicated effort over the long-term. 
 
 
LISBON 00001289  002 OF 002 
 
 
Multilateral Force yes, Unilateral Control no 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Franco reported that the visit had reaffirmed 
Portugal's views regarding the future UN mission: 
multilateral forces are the only way to go.  Without naming 
countries, Franco said, "most nations have a strategic or 
economic interest in East Timor that, if left unchecked, 
could undermine Timor's success."  Consequently, he 
underlined the need for a UN-led multilateral force in East 
Timor.  When asked about Portugal's plans for the police 
component, he replied that Portugal does not want to lead a 
force nor deploy a unilateral police mission but stressed it 
should only be under a UN mandate.  He would not be drawn on 
which country should lead the UN police component.  He 
commented that the multilateral efforts in military, police, 
and institutional support had worked well and should be 
repeated.  He remarked that a mix of international and 
bilateral missions would not only be more costly, but also 
less effective than a single UN-led multilateral force with 
multiple components.  East Timor should be an international 
success and, therefore, needs UN support immediately, 
according to Franco. 
 
CPLP Visit Next Week 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Cravinho had excellent access to all political players 
in Timor, according to Franco.  He noted that the Timorese 
responded to Portuguese representatives very positively given 
the historic links and what he described as Portugal's 
even-handed approach.  Franco was therefore optimistic that 
the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP in 
Portuguese) visit to Timor, slated for July 2, would be well 
received and allow the Timorese the opportunity to refine 
their proposals for the international community. 
 
¶8. (C) Comment: Portugal seems convinced that Timor's 
government should set the tone and makeup of the new UN 
mission without pressure from the international community. 
Franco seemed concerned, however, that the recent 
resignations and resulting discord would distract Timorese 
decision-makers from the important task of informing the UN 
about its needs.  He stressed that Portugal wanted to give 
Timor the opportunity to shape its own future, but 
acknowledged some frustration over the infighting.  End 
comment. 
Hoffman