SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO BECOME GLOBAL

UNCLAS MADRID 001798 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN'S RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO BECOME GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP DONOR REF: STATE 95991 ¶1. Per reftel Pol-miloff met May 10 with Guillermo Kirkpatrick, MFA's Director General for International Arms Control Affairs to revisit this issue. Kirkpatrick said given the new government is still getting into place, it is highly unlikely the GOS will make a decision on whether to become a Global Partnership Donor prior to the Sea Island Summit in June, and maybe not by then. The senior official responsible for issue, Rafael Dezcallar, Director General for Political Affairs, has taken over his position just recently and is getting up to speed on the issue. If the GOS does make a decision before the Sea Island Summit, Kirkpatrick promised to let us know. Meanwhile, we will continue to look for opportunities to press the issue with the GOS. ARGYROS