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DE RUEHLI #0518 2721507
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O 291507Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7892
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS LISBON 000518 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: IR KNNP MNUC PARM PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL "ON THE SAME LINE" AS THE U.S. ON IRAN 
NUCLEAR PROGRAM 
 
REF: STATE 100153 
 
(SBU) Poleconoff delivered reftel points on September 28 to 
Joao Neves da Costa, Portugal's MFA Director for Middle East 
and Maghreb Affairs, and Pedro Carmona, special assistant in 
the MFA's Office of Common Foreign and Security Policy. 
Neves da Costa asserted that the GOP was "on the same line" 
as the U.S. regarding Iran's nuclear program but would await 
the outcome of the October 1 meeting before taking any 
action.  Noting that Portugal had just held parliamentary 
elections September 27, he commented that the Foreign 
Minister could be replaced, resulting in the GOP not having a 
formal position on Iran for some time.  Nonetheless, Neves da 
Costa observed that the EU was developing a "package of 
sanctions" against Iran and the GOP would fully support them. 
 
 
For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, 
please see our Intelink site: 
 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal 
BALLARD