SPAIN'S POSITION ON UNSCR 1487 ROLLOVER NOT YET

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001762 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE USUN FOR N. ROSTOW E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2014 TAGS: PREL SP UNSC KICC SUBJECT: SPAIN'S POSITION ON UNSCR 1487 ROLLOVER NOT YET FIXED REF: A. STATE 106487 ¶B. MADRID 1716 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires J. Robert Manzanares, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Charge delivered ref A points May 14 to Deputy Foreign Minister Bernardino Leon. In addition to ref A points, Charge made clear that President Zapatero, Foreign Minister Moratinos and other high-level officials in the Zapatero government have stated a number of times they wish to maintain close relations with the U.S., and this was an opportunity to demonstrate that with actions that cost the GOS little or nothing. Charge also stressed the USG had worked hard at the UN to ensure SYG Annan named Spain's Javier Ruperez chairman of the UN's Counter Terrorism Committee. Charge also emphasized that although the MFA's UN affairs office had previously told embassy it believed the U.S. would have enough votes to prevail on the resolution even if Spain abstained (ref B),we did not believe that was the case. ¶2. (C) Leon replied that Spain's position on the rollover vote was not yet fixed, and he would take the matter up directly with Moratinos. He said he understood Charge's message on turning words in to action and added the GOS very much appreciated the U.S.'s help on the Ruperez nomination. Leon committed to get back to us as soon as possible with Spain's position on the rollover. MANZANARES