Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID1861
2004-05-21 10:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

MEETING WITH MFA'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR EUROPE AND

Tags:  PREL PGOV SP NATO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001861 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP NATO
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH MFA'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR EUROPE AND
NORTH AMERICA

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001861

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP NATO
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH MFA'S DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR EUROPE AND
NORTH AMERICA

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) PolCouns and poloff paid an initial call May 17 with
the MFA's newly-named Director General for Europe and North
America, former Spanish Ambassador to Denmark and Lithuania
Josep (Pepe) Pons. Previously, the Directorate General for
North America had been combined with the Asia portfolio, an
area in which Spain has very few interests. Under FM
Moratinos, however, the MFA has reshuffled portfolios,
combining North America with bilateral relations with Europe
(EU issues will be handled in a different directorate).


2. (C) Pons told us that in his view the MFA's
restructuring of departments to bring Europe and North
America together was a good move, because there are few
issues that do not touch both Europe and the U.S. Pons
averred there was no contradiction in Spain's desire for
excellent relations within an integrated Europe and strong
US-Spain ties. He noted that most of his experience during
his thirty year career has been working in Europe or on
European issues, but said that he would address U.S. issues
with equal vigor. However, he also indicated that the
European portfolio -- including bilateral relations with some
25 European countries -- would require frequent travel.


3. (C) We noted to Pons that even as the USG has expressed
disappointment with the Spanish troop withdrawals from Iraq,
the USG looks forward to cooperating with Spain on a variety
of issues. We noted that we have heard across the board from
the new government -- from highest levels to lower levels and
in the Parliament -- that the new government desires good
relations with the U.S. We stressed that we looked forward
to concrete steps to breathe life into this sentiment and to
build our relationship. Pons agreed that counter-terrorism,
as well as Afghanistan are two key areas of common interest.
He said he had been charged by Minister Moratinos to come up
with "visible areas of cooperation". Our common interests in
Latin America, he agreed, also offered an area ripe for
continued US-Spain cooperation. He also noted the GOS's
appreciation for the U.S.'s strong support and assistance in
securing the appointment of Spanish Ambassador Ruperez as
Executive Director of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee.

4. (C) On Afghanistan, we stressed to Pons the importance
of Spain's response to our request for augmenting Spanish
troop presence there (this meeting took place before receipt
of reftel, though the Afghanistan issue has been a subject of
continued dialogue with the new government). We also took
the opportunity to make clear that a Spanish vote in favor of
the ICC UNSC rollover resolution would be one area in which
Spain could show it still plans to cooperate with the U.S.
Pons hedged a bit and said the GOS is taking a very close
look at the issue, but "certain unfortunate circumstances"
had arisen (a clear reference to the Iraq prisoner scandal:
however, he is the first and only GOS interlocutor on the ICC
rollover issue to directly and overtly connect the two
issues) that made the issue more difficult. Pons noted that
Moratinos had consulted on the ICC rollover issue with EU
counterparts. (Note: Before and after this meeting, the USG
has raised this issue at higher levels, including with
Moratinos, who has expressed Spain's strong desire to abstain
on the resolution).


5. (C) Comment: While the atmospherics of this first
meeting with one of our primary interlocutors was pleasant,
the impression we took away was that we will have to work on
Pons in order to ensure he focuses appropriately on
U.S.-Spain issues, given his broad bilateral Europe
portfolio. As with other new GOS interlocutors, we heard the
message that the government wants to have good relations with
the U.S., as the Socialist government of Felipe Gonzalez had
with the U.S. under Presidents Reagan and former President
Bush. However, the devil remains in the details, and we will
continue to stress our desire for concrete examples of
cooperation.
ARGYROS