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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LISBON 000423 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PO TL
SUBJECT: DAS ERIC JOHN IN PORTUGAL TO DISCUSS EAST TIMOR 
 
REF: LISBON 0048 
 
LISBON 00000423  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Deputy Pol/Econ Counselor Cari Enav for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d) 
 
 Summary 
-------- 
¶1.  (C) EAP DAS Eric John met with Portuguese officials in 
Lisbon on February 5 to discuss the situation in East Timor 
and review military/police operations.  All expressed 
Portugal's desire to work with the international community - 
particularly with the US and Australia.  Portugal was not 
taking sides in the political conflict but was maintaining 
lines of communications with all parties, officials said. 
Several lamented that there was no one strong enough to 
counter the influence of former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri. 
 Resolving the election issue was paramount, with Ministry of 
Interior SecState Magalhaes traveling to Dili to help 
overcome differences and ensure a fair vote.  All agreed that 
international efforts should concentrate on building a 
viable, well-trained police force and not on the Timorese 
military.   Portugal was considering a UN request to station 
additional paramilitary police outside Dili despite 
Magalhaes's apparent frustration with UNMIT. 
 
Meetings 
------- 
¶2. (U) EAP DAS Eric John met with Ministry of the Interior 
State Secretary Jose Magalhaes whose portfolio includes the 
paramilitary Republican National Guard (GNR) currently 
stationed in Dili; with MFA Deputy D/G for Foreign Policy 
Antonio Ricoca Freire; with the Prime Minister's Diplomatic 
Advisor Jorge Roza de Oliveira; and with Parliament's Foreign 
Affairs Committee Vice-President Leonor Coutinho.  In 
addition, the GNR provided a briefing of its operations in 
East Timor, and DAS John conducted a TV interview on US - 
Asia relations with popular "Society of Nations" TV host Nuno 
Rogeiro. 
 
East Timor and Int'l Coordination - A Portuguese Priority 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶3. (C) Throughout the day, it was evident that the Portuguese 
had an extreme fondness for East Timor stemming from their 
colonial period and a keen desire to correct previous 
mistakes that had inhibited development there.  All 
interlocutors underscored Portugal's desire to work with the 
international community - particularly with the US and 
Australia - to stabilize the situation and build a viable 
democracy.  Portugal was receptive to DAS John's suggestion 
for Japan to play a more active role in East Timor, with 
Coutinho mentioning that she had raised the issue herself 
with the President of East Timor's Parliament. 
 
¶4. (C) Highlighting East Timor's importance to Portugal, 
Coutinho noted that it was the only foreign policy issue on 
which all political parties concurred.  Ricoca Freire further 
noted that Portugal had spent over 400 million euros there 
since 1999.  Despite this, Magalhaes lamented that Portugal 
had not been "pro-active" enough prior to the 2006 riots. 
The challenge in East Timor was more than just security, all 
said.  Democratic leaders needed to be trained and democratic 
institutions needed to be built. 
 
Political Readout - No One Strong Enough to Rival Alkatiri 
------------------------------------- 
¶5. (C) On the political front, all underscored that Portugal 
was not taking sides and that it maintained lines of 
communications with all parties.  In fact, the President of 
East Timor's Parliament had just met with Coutinho on 
February 5, Ramos Horta was expected to travel to Lisbon on 
February 14-15, and Magalhaes planned to travel to Dili the 
week of February 12. That said, several lamented that there 
was no one strong enough to rival the influence of former 
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.  President Xanana Gusmao was 
popular but not a good leader, according to Coutinho.  On the 
other hand, Ramos Horta did not have his heart set on leading 
the Timorese, according to Magalhaes.  Having worked 
alongside Ramos Horta at the UN, Magalhaes commented that 
Ramos Horta really wanted to be UN Secretary General.  Since 
that was no longer an option, it was unclear what his true 
intentions were. 
 
¶6. (C) To complicate matters, East Timor's constitution was 
inadequate and far too complex for the fledgling nation, 
 
LISBON 00000423  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
according to Magalhaes.  The way it is currently written 
favored Mari Alkatiri in his rivalry with Xanana Gusmao. 
(Note: Magalhaes, a constitutional lawyer, volunteered that 
the Portuguese had helped draft the East Timorese 
Constitution, copying large portions from Portugal,s 
Constitution.) 
 
Magalhaes Travels to Dili to Support Election Process 
-------------------------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) The election issue - in all its forms - was 
paramount, all concurred.  Magalhaes planned to travel to 
Dili the week of February 12 to help authorities resolve 
differences in election timing, encourage a fair and 
transparent vote, and ensure that election results were 
respected.  Since he was traveling in his official capacity, 
he would only be meeting with government officials, not with 
Mari Alkatiri. 
 
 
GNR Maintaining Public Order - Building Police Force 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶8. (C) All Portuguese officials agreed with DAS John that 
international efforts should concentrate on building a 
viable, well-trained police force and not on reforming and 
re-arming the F-FTDL (Timorese military).  The briefing by 
the Republican National Guard (Portugal's paramilitary 
police) provided an excellent overview of East Timor and a 
detailed outline of its mission - to maintain public order 
and train the police.  Infantry Regiment Bravo, having served 
in Iraq and now stationed in Dili, enjoyed excellent 
community relations with the Timorese and good coordination 
with the Australians.  It consisted of 142 officers and three 
emergency medical personnel.  Magalhaes underscored his close 
relationship with the regiment, noting that there had already 
been one rotation since initial deployment in June 2006, that 
he had personally said goodbye to each officer, and that he 
was in direct communication with the GNR commander in Dili. 
 
East Timor Requests More GNR 
--------------------- 
¶9. (C) Magalhaes and Roza de Oliveira informed DAS John that 
Portugal had just received a request from East Timor via the 
UN to station additional GNR outside Dili.  The government 
was considering the request but had not made any decision to 
date.  Magalhaes noted that Portugal had spent six million 
euros on its deployment to East Timor in 2006, a huge 
expenditure given the country's budgetary problems, and 
lamented that the UN had not provided reimbursement.  He 
implied that UN funding would play a decisive role in 
formulating Portugal's response.  Magalhaes went on to 
criticize UNMIT's organization and coordination of all 
contingents under the UNMIT umbrella. 
 
Focus on Portuguese Language and Judicial System 
------------------------------- 
¶10. (C) Ricoca Freire commented that the Portuguese language 
could play a unifying role in East Timor, given the numerous 
dialects there.  However, he added, Portugal is also a strong 
proponent of regional integration.  Ricoca Freire emphasized 
the international community needed to help strengthen the 
judicial system to promote reconciliation and ensure those 
responsible for violence were brought to justice.  DAS John 
underscored several times that the USG was working behind the 
scenes with Indonesia to ensure accountability for the 1999 
violence.  He noted that laying such groundwork was critical 
to ensuring accountability for the 2006 violence in East 
Timor. 
 
Philippines - Seeking EU Technical Support for EJK 
----------------------------------- 
¶11. (C) In response to EU criticism, the Philippines had 
asked the EU for assistance on Extra-Judicial killings (EJK). 
DAS John requested Portugal support the Philippines's request 
at all meetings, suggesting that technical assistance would 
be more beneficial than sending a rapporteur.  The Portuguese 
said they would take it under consideration. 
 
Comment 
------ 
¶12. (C) DAS Eric John underscored to the Portuguese the 
importance of international collaboration in East Timor.  The 
Portuguese expressed a clear desire to work with the 
international community - particularly the US and Australia - 
on this issue and that our overall objectives are the same. 
 
LISBON 00000423  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Portugal's value-added is its long history lends a unique 
perspective and its long relationship a special commitment. 
Recognizing the sensitivity surrounding its desire to see 
Portuguese become East Timor's official language, Portugal 
has been working quietly with local schools and Timorese 
institutions to promote its use.  On a broader regional 
scale, Portugal has also expressed a willingness to 
coordinate the EU's Asia agenda.  Portuguese officials have 
been traveling throughout Asia including trips to China, 
Japan and South Korea in preparation for Portugal's EU 
Presidency later this year.   Post will explore DAS John's 
suggestion for a possible DVC with EAP in advance of the 
November EU-Asean meeting. 
 
DAS Eric John has cleared this cable. 
Hoffman