E ESTA?

124011
Date:	2007-09-28 15:36:00
Origin:	07LISBON2527
Source:	Embassy Lisbon
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Dunno:
Destination:	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 TAGS: PGOV, PREL, OFDP, PO 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