Why was David Miliband in Portugal on the morning of 8 September 2007?

A video clip of former Foreign Minster David Miliband being interviewed in Portugal on the morning of Saturday 8 September 2007 was recently placed on the forum. Some surprise was expressed at his being there the very morning the McCanns were being made arguidos, and questions were raised as to why he was there at all.

So I recently asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Freedom of Information Section:

Please supply the following information during the period 1 August to 20 September 2007, together with:

a) Actual Dates

b) Names of countries and cities/towns visited

c) Express purpose of the visit.

I have received this reply, dated today (2 July):

I confirm that the FCO does hold information relevant to your request and the details are as listed below:

10 August, visiting Florence, Italy: purpose: ‘Bilateral visit’

4-7 September, visiting Bucharest, Romania – Istanbul, Turkey – Rome, Italy – Madrid, Spain: purpose: ‘Bilateral visits’

7-8 September, visiting Viana do Castelo, Portugal: purpose: ‘GYMNICH (informal gathering of EU Foreign Ministers)’.

So it seems he was in Portugal talking to the press on the morning of 8 September just by the fortuitous chance of being at an informal meeting in Portugal of some other EU Foreign Ministers.

How very odd!

It is if he was in Praia da Luz when he was visiting Viano do Castelo; they're at opposite ends of the country about 300 miles apart.

Tony Bennett wrote:A video clip of former Foreign Minster David Miliband being interviewed in Praia da Luz on the morning of Saturday 8 September 2007 was recently placed on the forum. Some surprise was expressed at his being there the very morning the McCanns were being made arguidos, and questions were raised as to why he was there at all.

So I recently asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Freedom of Information Section:

Please supply the following information during the period 1 August to 20 September 2007, together with:

a) Actual Dates

b) Names of countries and cities/towns visited

c) Express purpose of the visit.

I have received this reply, dated today (2 July):

I confirm that the FCO does hold information relevant to your request and the details are as listed below:

10 August, visiting Florence, Italy: purpose: ‘Bilateral visit’

4-7 September, visiting Bucharest, Romania – Istanbul, Turkey – Rome, Italy – Madrid, Spain: purpose: ‘Bilateral visits’

7-8 September, visiting Viana do Castelo, Portugal: purpose: ‘GYMNICH (informal gathering of EU Foreign Ministers)’.

So it seems he was in Praia da Luz talking to the press on the morning of 8 September just by the fortuitous chance of also being at an informal meeting in Portugal of some other EU Foreign Ministers.

I have been to Viana do Castelo and it is a pretty town in the far north of Portugal. David certainly would have had to have gone out of his way in order to visit Praia Da Luz.

Rather the pertinent question would be: who has the power to persuade him to go to PDL 300 miles away from his official meeting place for the sake of a pair of doctors embroiled in a mess of their creation?

You really have to wonder why the interference from high level politicians - what is so special about this case?

Cheshire Cat wrote:

Tony Bennett wrote:A video clip of former Foreign Minster David Miliband being interviewed in Praia da Luz on the morning of Saturday 8 September 2007 was recently placed on the forum. Some surprise was expressed at his being there the very morning the McCanns were being made arguidos, and questions were raised as to why he was there at all.

So I recently asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Freedom of Information Section:

Please supply the following information during the period 1 August to 20 September 2007, together with:

a) Actual Dates

b) Names of countries and cities/towns visited

c) Express purpose of the visit.

I have received this reply, dated today (2 July):

I confirm that the FCO does hold information relevant to your request and the details are as listed below:

10 August, visiting Florence, Italy: purpose: ‘Bilateral visit’

4-7 September, visiting Bucharest, Romania – Istanbul, Turkey – Rome, Italy – Madrid, Spain: purpose: ‘Bilateral visits’

7-8 September, visiting Viana do Castelo, Portugal: purpose: ‘GYMNICH (informal gathering of EU Foreign Ministers)’.

So it seems he was in Praia da Luz talking to the press on the morning of 8 September just by the fortuitous chance of also being at an informal meeting in Portugal of some other EU Foreign Ministers.

I have been to Viana do Castelo and it is a pretty town in the far north of Portugal. David certainly would have had to have gone out of his way in order to visit Praia Da Luz.

So, if he was interviewed Saturday 8th morning, in PdL, where had he stayed the night to have completed the journey between the north and PdL.
Do we assume the meeting of FOs was on Friday 7th ? or after the interview and journey north on the 8th.
What was the interview about. Why would he have been in PdL for the McCanns becoming arguidos.
How would he have got from Madrid to Viana do Castelo. By airplane, by car. Which airport. How did he get from VdC to PdL. By plane or by car. How did he get back to the UK, by plane? which airport, when?
Is Viana do Castelo a place where conferences or meetings of top government officials would normally assemble to meet (informally).
Too bizarre.

Tony, the video actually states he was in Portugal at that time not PDL.

Interesting, thanks. This is getting weirder and weirder.

What is so special about this couple.


 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1562575/Madeleine-McCanns-parents-flying-back-to-UK.html

"The McCanns plan to approach David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, asking him to intervene in the case of their missing daughter Madeleine amid growing fears that they might become the victims of a "shocking injustice".

The article is dated 9th September, so I guess they'd already approached him, as he was in Praia da Luz on the 8th. Edited to add: Oops, just read your post Candyfloss. Guess he was in Portugal, not PdL.


"The Foreign Office was last night described as "firing on all cylinders" in its efforts to help the McCanns.

Asked about the case yesterday, Mr Miliband said: "A little girl is missing. This is an independent judicial process we fully respect. Consular services are being provided. Above all, this is about a little girl." "

candyfloss wrote:Tony, the video actually states he was in Portugal at that time not PDL.

I am very sorry to have given misinformation on this thread that David Miliband was in Praia da Luz on 8 September when I now understand that the video clip merely says, apparently, that he was 'in Portugal'.

I have changed the OP and the thread title

Tony Bennett wrote:

candyfloss wrote:Tony, the video actually states he was in Portugal at that time not PDL.

I am very sorry to have given misinformation on this thread that David Miliband was in Praia da Luz on 8 September when I now understand that the video clip merely says, apparently, that he was 'in Portugal'.

I have changed the OP and the thread title  

Thanks Tony, noted. It's not so bizarre then, him being in Portugal, except, is that pretty village up north a normal place for such important people to be meeting informally.
That seems odd, but perhaps there's a lovely spa up there or the food is just too good to miss.
For my part, the food in Portugal is gorgeous wherever I have eaten, especially 'cod and baked bananas' with green beans, olive oil and garlic...... 

If I remember rightly, Milliband was there for that meeting, however if I remember rightly wasn't the portugese at that period in a position where they could be bent over the table with regard to something more specific than is detailed there?

I can't remember of the top of my head but I'm sure that the Portugese were requiring UK support over some en devour, but it will come to me.

So it Was David  Milliband !!! i always thought it was Balls and Cooper. Thats why Labour swung into action then .

What a total Cu@@.

Does anyone who was a regular at the 3A forum remember a thread about a potential Miliband link to the McCanns? Whilst searching for the high-up link between McCanns and Government some photos of Maddie showed a male figure who could not be seen fully but looked enough like Miliband to help conjecture that he or his brother were linked.

Anyone have recollection or even better a photo?

Yes there was definitely discussion on this and I believe the photo was taken at Christmas time, it was mentioned it looked like Miliband in the photo, I would imagine someone saved a copy so hopefully someone may be able to come up with it.

I know for a fact that Ed Miliband was the Cabinet Secretary [CM's boss] at the time CM left the Govt and went to work for the McCs.

Re Miliband this was posted on DI forum



http://www.truthformadeleine.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=423

(11) Foreign Secretary David Miliband admits to having a number of telephone conversations with the Doctors McCann - but won't say how many

During 1997, Mr Clarence Mitchell, full-time PR spokesman for the Doctors McCann, claimed that after the McCanns were made 'arguidos' [formal suspects], they had not recieved any help from, or even been in contact with, any senior Ministers of the British government.

However, an enterprising member of the public decided to ask a question about Mr Mitchell's claim under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Here are extracts from the reply from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

"I can confirm that the Foreign Secretary has communicated with the McCann family on a number of occasions. However any further details relating to this have been withheld under Section 36(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act which, if disclosed, would or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs...we had to apply a 'public interest test' to determine whether or not the information should be released. We recognise that there is a public interest in transparent and open government...but we have to balance this with the need to reassure British nationals in need of Consular assistance that we will protect details relating to their situation. In this instance there is clearly an expectation that the details of all communications were confidential and would not be [made] public...For this reason, we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in release.

"The Foreign Secretary has not communicated with either Clarence Mitchell or the [private company Helping to Find Madeleine]: Leaving No Stone Unturned Ltd".
It should be noted, however, that from May to September 2007 Mr Clarence Mitchell was seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for which Mr Miliband was the Secretary of State.

Cherry wrote:Re Miliband this was posted on DI forum



http://www.truthformadeleine.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=423

(11) Foreign Secretary David Miliband admits to having a number of telephone conversations with the Doctors McCann - but won't say how many

During 1997, Mr Clarence Mitchell, full-time PR spokesman for the Doctors McCann, claimed that after the McCanns were made 'arguidos' [formal suspects], they had not recieved any help from, or even been in contact with, any senior Ministers of the British government.

However, an enterprising member of the public decided to ask a question about Mr Mitchell's claim under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Here are extracts from the reply from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

"I can confirm that the Foreign Secretary has communicated with the McCann family on a number of occasions. However any further details relating to this have been withheld under Section 36(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act which, if disclosed, would or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs...we had to apply a 'public interest test' to determine whether or not the information should be released. We recognise that there is a public interest in transparent and open government...but we have to balance this with the need to reassure British nationals in need of Consular assistance that we will protect details relating to their situation. In this instance there is clearly an expectation that the details of all communications were confidential and would not be [made] public...For this reason, we consider that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in release.

"The Foreign Secretary has not communicated with either Clarence Mitchell or the [private company Helping to Find Madeleine]: Leaving No Stone Unturned Ltd".
It should be noted, however, that from May to September 2007 Mr Clarence Mitchell was seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for which Mr Miliband was the Secretary of State.

 I don't pay much credence to press reports however this was interesting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/sep/09/ukcrime.madeleinemccann

　
"The McCanns spoke to Miliband a month ago, and family sources said he had been 'very supportive'. Now, they are hoping he might help head off any decision to lay charges against the McCanns on the basis of what one relative branded as 'repulsive' suggestions they were involved in their daughter's disappearance".

nomendelta wrote:Does anyone who was a regular at the 3A forum remember a thread about a potential Miliband link to the McCanns? Whilst searching for the high-up link between McCanns and Government some photos of Maddie showed a male figure who could not be seen fully but looked enough like Miliband to help conjecture that he or his brother were linked.

Anyone have recollection or even better a photo?

 Yes I remember the photo and it certainly did look like David Miliband, the hairstyle was certainly the same.

Beanie wrote:

nomendelta wrote:Does anyone who was a regular at the 3A forum remember a thread about a potential Miliband link to the McCanns? Whilst searching for the high-up link between McCanns and Government some photos of Maddie showed a male figure who could not be seen fully but looked enough like Miliband to help conjecture that he or his brother were linked.

Anyone have recollection or even better a photo?

 Yes I remember the photo and it certainly did look like David Miliband, the hairstyle was certainly the same.

I remember wasn't it on some home video of the McCanns?

As Ed Milliband was classed as Gordon Browns pet project and David was Bliars it could explain a lot

Im certain it was part of the video released at Christmas showing Madeleine opening her presents, the one where she is dressed in pink, Some one posted a still from the video on a forum and it looked like Milliband sitting on the couch

Nina wrote:

sally66 wrote:

Beanie wrote:

nomendelta wrote:Does anyone who was a regular at the 3A forum remember a thread about a potential Miliband link to the McCanns? Whilst searching for the high-up link between McCanns and Government some photos of Maddie showed a male figure who could not be seen fully but looked enough like Miliband to help conjecture that he or his brother were linked.

Anyone have recollection or even better a photo?

 Yes I remember the photo and it certainly did look like David Miliband, the hairstyle was certainly the same.

I remember wasn't it on some home video of the McCanns?

As Ed Milliband was classed as Gordon Browns pet project and David was Bliars it could explain a lot

yes there was discussion as to which brother it was. He was sat on a couch behind where Madeleine was and I am sure it was a Christmas video.

 Yes Nina you could be right.

coppernob wrote:Im certain it was part of the video released at Christmas showing Madeleine opening her presents, the one where she is dressed in pink, Some one posted a still from the video on a forum and it looked like Milliband sitting on the couch

 Hopefully someone has saved it.

Beanie wrote:

coppernob wrote:Im certain it was part of the video released at Christmas showing Madeleine opening her presents, the one where she is dressed in pink, Some one posted a still from the video on a forum and it looked like Milliband sitting on the couch

 Hopefully someone has saved it.

I brought this up several months ago, and it may have been on the Missing Madeleine site.
Someone said it could have been Callum McCrae, the young man that Philomena got to do the website. They put a photo of him up and his hairline is very similar.
I am not sure that it is him though, and remind myself that David Milliband did get a bit involved in the introducing of McCanns to the EU parliament for the promotion of the Amber Alert thing.
If the background to any of this has been to get public acceptance of tagging children, Blair being Bush's bitch and total person tagging is the USA hidden agenda, then someone, I'm vaguely remembering, had announced before 2007, that an appealing looking child would become the 'disappeared' icon for the introduction of said regime.
Given that the so called 'conspiracy theorists' have been absolutely spot on with a wise and predictive commentary on the ominous secretive moves of the USA secret leaders / bilderbergers, etc. and this is proven by the Edward Snowden affair now, (look at RT.com, the Russian News channel in English if you want to be informed, since, barring the Guardian, virtually nothing is being reported in the UK) I can just as easily accept that 'tagging' is on the agenda, and Madeleine, with her iconic photo, coloboma, smooth skin airbrushing, etc. was being considered way back then.
Her photos were available in the holiday suitcases where there was no room for children's toothbrushes, and our Kate's 'They've taken her' is so contrived as to make me think that a long term hidden agenda is a possibility.
I'll try to find the threads, but maybe someone else will have it to hand sooner. 

You know, Bobbin - I have considered similar myself. It is all rather "contrived" seeming, isn't it?

Lance De Boils wrote:You know, Bobbin - I have considered similar myself. It is all rather "contrived" seeming, isn't it?

As I've said in other posts, the McCanns tentacles stretch far and wide. It's quite jaw dropping when you think they are supposed to be two ordinary "medical people" from ordinary backgrounds but yet they have so much backing from multi millionaires who apparently don't know anything about them, have had backing from high up government officials who take their word that Madeleine was "abducted"; Leveson took in every word they said and was almost in tears by their "superficial" recall of events.

They have drawn so many people into their "spider's web" either by design or conspiracy, it makes you wonder where the web is going to end.

Tony as per usual makes interesting observations.
Tony is an assett on forums such as this in that he has been involved in the gritty world of politics
and knows how the system works (or plays).
The more I try to reason with the Tapas Groups account of the sad plight of little Madeleine and their
actions following the event...........the more I doubt their sincerity.
My sticking points are:-
1.   Nine adults on board yet NO system put in place for one adult to take the task of taking a night out to
babysit. This is a big issue for me bearing in mind that the children were all under 4 years of age, and
that the adults on board were all proffessionals - many of them medical professionals employed by our
NHS.  ............This fact alone  should have raised questions and had the UK Government suspecting
cooperating fully with the Portuguese in the intitial stages of the investigation.
2.  There were reports early on that Gerry McCann made a phonecall late pm May 3 to an Alistair Clark(
spelling might be incorrect) who is an illusive character but was New Labours mover and shaker( ie
propaganda minister).
3. From the headlines recently we can no longer pretend that the mafia ie Washington DC private limited
corpotation are a figure or our imagination.  It is now fact that for the past decade if not before that
that anything that might be anything that moves or breathes on this planet is monitored with a vengenge.
So -------- LETS GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT .........Madeleine did not disappear into thin air......how could
she when the New World Order have satalites dictating our every move.
4.  Why did the UK Government of the day overnight put so much effort into this case in defence of the  Tapas
Group.  I have read into this over the years and my explanation now is no different than it was back then.
Corruption is rife, the voting system is a lark....   The truth is that certain individuals with good credentails ie
been educated at the best schools are indoctrinated by the cartel and installed in office to serve the agenda
that the few crazies deem fit.

End of the day we the masses have to understand that this world is not all about us and our enjoyment, our
children deserve a future and a planet free from Monsanto GM modified crops that can feed their offspring
and the generations to come.
Remember there are a few of them there are masses of us.
The day that we wake up enmass and expose them................is the day that they lose control  and the day that
our children and their children will remember us their ancesters for our stance in doing our little bit to show
that love is way more a powerful force than all the money in the owrld and connectons can buy.

mira2 wrote:Tony as per usual makes interesting observations.
Tony is an assett on forums such as this in that he has been involved in the gritty world of politics
and knows how the system works (or plays).
The more I try to reason with the Tapas Groups account of the sad plight of little Madeleine and their
actions following the event...........the more I doubt their sincerity.
My sticking points are:-
1.   Nine adults on board yet NO system put in place for one adult to take the task of taking a night out to
babysit. This is a big issue for me bearing in mind that the children were all under 4 years of age, and
that the adults on board were all proffessionals - many of them medical professionals employed by our
NHS.  ............This fact alone  should have raised questions and had the UK Government suspecting
cooperating fully with the Portuguese in the intitial stages of the investigation.
2.  There were reports early on that Gerry McCann made a phonecall late pm May 3 to an Alistair Clark(
spelling might be incorrect) who is an illusive character but was New Labours mover and shaker( ie
propaganda minister).
3. From the headlines recently we can no longer pretend that the mafia ie Washington DC private limited
corpotation are a figure or our imagination.  It is now fact that for the past decade if not before that
that anything that might be anything that moves or breathes on this planet is monitored with a vengenge.
So -------- LETS GET SOMETHING STRAIGHT .........Madeleine did not disappear into thin air......how could
she when the New World Order have satalites dictating our every move.
4.  Why did the UK Government of the day overnight put so much effort into this case in defence of the  Tapas
Group.  I have read into this over the years and my explanation now is no different than it was back then.
Corruption is rife, the voting system is a lark....   The truth is that certain individuals with good credentails ie
been educated at the best schools are indoctrinated by the cartel and installed in office to serve the agenda
that the few crazies deem fit.

End of the day we the masses have to understand that this world is not all about us and our enjoyment, our
children deserve a future and a planet free from Monsanto GM modified crops that can feed their offspring
and the generations to come.
Remember there are a few of them there are masses of us.
The day that we wake up enmass and expose them................is the day that they lose control  and the day that
our children and their children will remember us their ancesters for our stance in doing our little bit to show
that love is way more a powerful force than all the money in the owrld and connectons can buy.

 HALLELUJAH !!!

It wasnt Milliband sitting on the lounge.

Milliband obviously played a part in getting the McCanns out of the country.