VZCZCXRO4736
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHLI #2003 2581604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151604Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5159
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0010
UNCLAS LISBON 002003
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV PHUM PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES
MINISTERIAL AT UNGA
REF: SECSTATE 149622
THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 2.
1. (U) MFA International Organizations Officer Ana Coelho
offered her perspective on the upcoming Community of
Democracies (CD) Ministerial and discussed plans for
Portugal's upcoming CD Presidency. In response to the reftel
demarche, Coelho confirmed that Portuguese Foreign Minister
Luis Amado will attend the Ministerial. She added that
Portugal hopes to see the CD task force establish a plan to
create a permanent secretariat rather than continuing the
current rotating presidency system. Although Portugal is
engaged in planning its upcoming term, Coelho voiced doubts
about the overall dedication that some other nations brought
to the task and reiterated the misgivings that other EU
members have about the CD overall. France, in particular,
disapproved of the CD and urged Portugal to exercise caution
while serving simultaneously as president of the EU and of
the Community of Democracies.
2. (U) Coelho commented that Portugal contributed as a
founding member of UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF) but had not
received information on how that money had been distributed.
She requested further information on who manages those funds
and on how projects had been selected. ACTION REQUEST: Post
requests the Department provide information about the working
of the UNDEF for transmission to the GOP. END ACTION REQUEST.
O'Neal