Britain’s ambassador to Portugal Alexander Wykeham Ellis told United States ambassador Alfred Hoffman that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown would not attend the European Union-Africa summit in Lisbon if Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe showed up.
Britain would, however, not discourage other EU members from attending but already there were indications that the Dutch, Irish and Swedish leaders might follow Brown’s lead.
He could not confirm if Britain would send any representatives to the summit.
On the other bad guys, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Ellis said Portugal’s approach was based on engagement.
Hoffman countered: “Irrational people cannot be expected to behave rationally”.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 07LISBON2527, PORTUGAL: UK AMBASSADOR ON ENERGY SECURITY,
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO1258
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLI #2527/01 2711536
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 281536Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6308
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 002527
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE KEVIN OPSTRUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2017
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: UK AMBASSADOR ON ENERGY SECURITY,
RUSSIA, EU-AFRICA SUMMIT, AND MCCANN CASE
Classified By: POL/ECON TIFFANY MCGRIFF FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D)
SUMMARY
——-
¶1. (C) On September 21, newly-arrived British Ambassador
Alexander Wykeham Ellis informed Ambassador Hoffman that
European concerns over Russia’s aggressive energy policies
and the need for market competition were the driving forces
behind the third EU energy liberalization package. He
suggested that Russia’s position with its neighbors was
guided by a self-proclaimed right to do “what it wants, when
it wants” in its own neighborhood. Regarding Robert Mugabe’s
participation in the proposed EU-Africa Summit, Ellis said
the UK would not discourage other member states from
participating if PM Brown stayed away. He doubted, however,
if the Dutch, Irish, or Swedish would attend in Brown’s
absence. Ellis also noted that it was the British police that
developed the current evidence against Madeleine McCann’s
parents in the high-profile case that has captured
international attention. He informed the Ambassador that
former British Ambassador John Buck had accepted a
private-sector position at a UK gas company and that his
departure had nothing to do with bilateral issues. END SUMMARY
RUSSIA’S ENERGY GAME IS COMING TO AN END
—————————————-
¶2. (C) According to Ellis, European concerns over Russia’s
aggressive energy policies and the need for increased market
competition were the driving forces behind the third EU
energy liberalization package. He called Russia the greatest
threat to European energy security and described its energy
policies as a “game that’s coming to an end.” He argued that
Gazprom’s sustainability depends on the European distribution
network and that Putin, who is “always trying to make a point
to Europe,” knew and understood this reality. Quoting a
statement he had heard elsewhere, Ellis described Russia as
“too strong, too weak”; suggesting that it was a bipolar
society divided by feelings of strength and empowerment and
internal fears of national failure.
RUSSIA, THE BIG BAD NEIGHBOR
—————————-
¶3. (C) When questioned about Kosovo and Russia’s relationship
with its neighbors, Ellis suggested that Russia’s position
(on Kosovo) was driven by a self-proclaimed right to do “what
it wants, when it wants” in its own neighborhood. Ellis did
not believe that Russia had high regard for Serbia or any of
its other neighbors, but rather it feared outside influences
in the region. Reflecting on his position as Director of the
EU Enlargement Team in London (2001-2003), Ellis noted that
completing the 2004 EU enlargement phase had been difficult,
and hypothesized that if the Russia of now were the Russia of
then, the process would have been nearly impossible.
MUGABE…AND THE OTHER BAD GUYS
——————————-
¶4. (C) According to Ellis, the UK’s position on Zimbabwe has
not changed; if Robert Mugabe showed up, then Gordon Brown
would not. However, he could not confirm if the British
government would send any representatives. While he claimed
that the UK had steered away from discouraging other member
stated from attending, he noted the possibility that the
Dutch, Irish, and Swedish leaders may follow Brown’s lead.
Regarding Chavez and Ahmadinejad, Ellis commented that
Portugal’s approach was centered on “engagement” — even with
the so-called bad guys. Ambassador Hoffman countered that
“irrational people cannot be expected to behave rationally.”
While acknowledging that the US position was justifiable,
Ellis responded that there were sensitivities at play for
Portugal, especially regarding Venezuela. (Note: There are
approximately a half-million Portuguese living in Venezuela.
End Note)
THE MADELEINE MCCANN CASE
————————-
¶5. (C) Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in the south of
Portugal in May 2007 has generated international media
attention with controversy surrounding the Portuguese-led
police investigation and the actions of Madeleine’s parents.
Without delving into the details of the case, Ellis admitted
that the British police had developed the current evidence
against the McCann parents, and he stressed that authorities
from both countries were working cooperatively. He commented
that the media frenzy was to be expected and was acceptable
as long as government officials keep their comments behind
closed doors.
BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
—————————————–
¶6. (SBU) Ellis, a former school teacher, joined Britain’s
LISBON 00002527 002 OF 002
Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1990 and moved
progressively up the chain to Ambassador. Lisbon was his
first foreign tour as a diplomat, followed by postings in
Brussels, Madrid and London. He has also served as Director
of the EU Enlargement Team in London (2001-2003) and as
adviser on energy policies and trade issues (2005-2007) under
EC President Jose Barroso. He is married to Portuguese
citizen Maria Teresa Adegas and has a nine-year old son.
Ellis informed Ambassador Hoffman that former British
Ambassador John Buck had accepted a private-sector position
with a British gas company and that his abrupt departure in
August 2007 had nothing to do with bilateral issues.
Hoffman
(28 VIEWS)
