SPAIN: PARTIAL RESPONSE TO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001118 SIPDIS FOR EUR/WE AND NP/PTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2014 TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: PARTIAL RESPONSE TO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INVITATION REF: STATE 71293 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (U) We delivered reftel talking points and letter April 2 to Guillermo Kirkpatrick, the MFA's Deputy Director General for International Disarmament Affairs. We addressed the letter to Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Javier Gil Catalina, the under secretary-level official who deals with disarmament matters. As expected, Kirkpatrick said current GOS officials cannot take action on the invitation and will have to pass it on to officials taking over under the Zapatero administration in late April. ¶2. (C) Kirkpatrick did, however, give us his initial impression on the prospects of Spain joining the Global Partnership. He said the GOS will be very interested to know if and how the G8 Sea Island Summit leaders plan to expand the scope of Global Partnership recipients. Kirkpatrick commented that Spain would be more likely to become a donor if the G8 expands the scope of recipients beyond Russia and former Soviet republics, to include, for example countries such as Libya, in which Spain has a greater interest. Embassy will follow up on the invitation letter once the new administration is in place. ARGYROS