SPAIN:AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001040 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2014 TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV AF SP NATO SUBJECT: SPAIN:AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE RESPONSE REF: STATE 47946 Classified By: Economic Counselor Judy Garber: Reasons 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for Continental Asia Alejandro E. Albargonzalez San Martin told us March 25 that Spain's delegation will not be making new commitments to Afghanistan at the Berlin Conference. He noted that while Spain will carry out its previous pledge of $113 million through 2005, the transition between the departing Popular Party and the newly elected Socialists means that the GOS is not currently in a position to make new pledges of assistance. ¶2. (C) We raised the comments of Socialist Foreign Minister-designate Miguel Angel Moratinos, who stated in the Spanish press that the new government would increase Spanish support for Afghanistan. Press reports also suggest that Socialist President-elect Zapatero made a similar statement in his meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell on March ¶24. Albargonzalez was aware of the pronouncements, but told us that no new aid policies for Afghanistan have been announced. ¶3. (U) We will update on Spain's assistance to Afghanistan as the Socialist government transitions to power. ¶4. (U) Minimize considered. ARGYROS