VZCZCXRO0528
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHLI #0068/01 0531354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221354Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8119
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBQ/AMEMBASSY BISSAU
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY 0001
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0237
RUEHPA/AMEMBASSY PRAIA 0279
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 000068 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/RSA, AF/W, AND INL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINS PREL PGOV MARR KDEM KJUS PU PO
SUBJECT: EU MISSION IN GUINEA-BISSAU: MANDATE RENEWAL 
EXPECTED 
 
LISBON 00000068  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Since 2008, an EU mission in Guinea-Bissau 
(GB) has been playing an important role in reform of the 
military and the security and justice sectors.  Despite 
initial challenges due to political instability and 
resistance from the GB military, the low-budget advisory 
mission has made progress with the passage of key reform 
legislation.  Its original one-year mandate, extended until 
May 31, 2010, is expected to be renewed for another year 
pending approval of further legislation by the GB government 
and an understanding with the UN to improve coordination. 
The Portuguese have invested significant political capital in 
the mission, and would welcome greater participation by other 
EU member states, the U.S., and the Community of Portuguese 
Language Countries (CPLP).  End Summary. 
 
COMPOSITION OF MISSION 
---------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) The EU Mission in Support of Security Sector Reform 
in Guinea-Bissau (EU SSR Guinea-Bissau), headed by Spanish 
General Juan Esteban Verastegui, is currently composed of 13 
advisors (eight of them Portuguese) and half a dozen support 
staff, including logistics and security officers.  According 
to Luis Leandro da Silva, Head of European Security and 
Defense Policy at the Portuguese MFA, Portugal has invested 
significant political capital in the mission and has a 
natural interest in promoting it and ensuring its success. 
He stressed, however, that Portugal would like more diverse 
participation.  Noting that there have been few candidates 
from other countries, he welcomed greater participation by 
other EU member states, the U.S., and third countries, 
particularly from CPLP, but recognized that financial 
constraints often limit participation. 
 
MANDATE RENEWAL 
--------------- 
¶3. (SBU) The mission was established in 2008 under a one-year 
mandate until April 2009, and extended until May 31, 2010 by 
two six-month extensions.  According to da Silva, the mission 
has a three-fold mandate -- to reform the military and the 
security and justice sectors.  The EU Political and Security 
Commission has reached consensus to renew the mission under a 
new one-year mandate (June 1, 2010 - May 31, 2011) with a 
greater focus on implementation of security reforms.  The 
decision, which has yet to be formally adopted by the Foreign 
Affairs Council, would be conditioned on (1) approval of 
further legislation by the GB government prior to the end of 
the current mandate, and (2) an understanding, possibly in 
the form of an MOU, between the EU mission and the UN to 
improve coordination and division of labor. 
 
PROGRESS TO DATE 
---------------- 
¶4. (SBU) Da Silva said that while the mission is a low-budget 
(6 million euros) advisory operation, it has had a positive 
impact in Guinea-Bissau, attaining results despite a 
difficult, politically unstable environment, exacerbated by 
the March 2009 assassinations of the president and military 
chief of staff.  Da Silva acknowledged that initially the 
mission faced challenges due to political instability, which 
made it difficult for the GB government to focus on enacting 
reform legislation.  He noted that there was also some 
initial mistrust on the part of GB authorities and resistance 
from the military to the proposed reforms, which would 
necessarily involve downsizing and restructuring the 
military.  Nevertheless, da Silva insisted, the mission made 
progress toward bringing civilian rule to the security 
sector.  The GB government approved reform of the police 
force and is working toward creating a structure similar to 
the paramilitary Portuguese National Guard and civilian 
police. 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to da Silva, the work of the mission is 
fundamental to the political process and stability of 
Guinea-Bissau.  He warned that without reform of the military 
or police force, there would continue to be excessive 
interference by the military and security forces in the 
political process.  He characterized the EU mission as the 
"most credible mission" on security reform, but acknowledged 
that the UN also plays an important role in Guinea-Bissau. 
Da Silva credited the EU mission for highlighting the need 
 
LISBON 00000068  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
for security reform, eliciting commitment from GB 
authorities, mobilizing UN actors, and generating interest in 
security reform within the Economic Community of West African 
States (ECOWAS).  The UN is in the process of consolidating 
the operations of its various offices in Guinea-Bissau into a 
centralized office, which will be designated the UN 
Integrated Office in Guinea-Bissau and staffed by 
approximately 100 people. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
¶6. (SBU) The Portuguese would welcome U.S. participation in 
this mission.  With the anticipated one-year mandate renewal, 
the U.S. could fulfill an important advisory role in support 
of ongoing reform efforts in Guinea-Bissau, furthering our 
bilateral relationships with both Portugal and its former 
colony.  A U.S. offer to provide an advisor to the GB justice 
sector remains outstanding in Washington, though we 
understand it has received favorable consideration.  Embassy 
Lisbon recommends that Department seek to resolve the delay 
in the U.S. decision to participate in the EU mission in 
Guinea-Bissau in anticipation of a new one-year mandate 
beginning in June.  Guinea-Bissau is the textbook example of 
a failed state, yet a modest U.S. investment would show that 
we care and support a strong ally in its efforts to make a 
difference. 
 
 
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