VZCZCXRO9010
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLI #0155 0721542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131542Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7465
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES

UNCLAS LISBON 000155 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL/EU BACK BALANCE ON GAZA AT GAERC/GYMNICH 
 
¶1. (SBU) On March 13 Portugal's MFA Deputy EU Correspondent 
Florbela Cardy said the EU generally shares US positions 
about Bosnia/Herzegovina, Belarus, Sudan, and the 
Israel-Palestinian Peace Process as outlined in our talking 
points for the March GAERC.  Cardy told us Montenegro, 
Transnistria, and Iran are not on the agenda. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Bosnia: Cardy confirmed that Austrian Ambassador 
Valentin Inzko has been named EU Special Representative in 
Sarejevo.  The EU continues to support full implementation of 
the Peace Implementation Council's five objectives and two 
conditions before transition to an enhanced EU Special 
Representative mission in Bosnia, and Cardy said progress had 
been made toward strengthened EU engagement with Bosnia. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Belarus: Cardy said despite recent negative human 
rights actions by Belarus, there have been positive steps and 
Belarus' participation in the Eastern Partnership Initiative 
(EaP) is being considered.  The EU favors continued 
engagement with Belarus to encourage positive progress and 
will extend suspension of travel bans of the Belarus 
officials. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Sudan:  The EU believes the Government of Sudan must 
comply with UN resolutions and respect the independence and 
decisions of the International Criminal Court. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process: The EU supports 
Quartet efforts, the formation of a National Unity Government 
and calls on both parties to fully implement UNSCR 1860. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Cardy said transatlantic relations, including 
broadening international support for closing the Guantanamo 
detention facility, will be discussed at lunch, in 
preparation for the April 5 US-EU summit in Brussels. 
 
 
For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, 
please see our Intelink site: 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal 
 
STEPHENSON