MFA'S NEW POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001864 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV SP NATO SUBJECT: MFA'S NEW POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, MIDDLE EAST, ICC ROLLOVER RESOLUTION REF: A. STATE 111287 ¶B. STATE 111359 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) MFA Political director Rafael Dezcallar told Polcouns in a May 20 meeting that Spain wanted to be helpful on Afghanistan but likely would have to determine whether resources would be available. He indicated the GOS likely would not be able to meet all of the requests the USG has presented (ref a). On the issue of augmenting troop presence in Western Afghanistan, he asked for details on the location and distance of the Forward Support Base from Kabul. Per e-mail response from EUR/RPM, we were able to get this information back quickly to the MFA. (the FSB is in Herat, some 400 miles from Kabul in a relatively calm area). Note: in a separate conversation later that day, President Zapatero's national security advisor Casajuana asked about the size/numbers required for the medical facility we had requested -- conversation reported septel). ¶2. (C) When we reviewed our thinking on the possible elements of a draft Iraq UNSC resolution (ref b),Dezcallar asked about USG thinking on the Russian proposal for two conferences, one among Iraqis to endorse the new government and another with the participation of the international community. Dezcallar also said the GOS believes any resolution must deal with the "before and after" sovereignty transfer issue, i.e., the resolution should support the pre-June 30 political arrangement but also outline the post-June 30 plan for transferring sovereignty and eventually holding elections. He was pleased with the reference to a endorsing a political transition timetable, e.g., elections in January 2005. On the element encouraging regional organization participation, Dezcallar expressed concern that a resolution specifically referring to a NATO role would appear to western- and even U.S.-oriented and suggested that resolution refer only in general to international and/or regional organizations. ¶3. (C) As part of our continuing dialogue with the GOS over the past few weeks on the UNSC ICC rollover resolution, Dezcallar recalled his May 19 conversation with A/S Jones, saying that the issue remained a matter of principle for the GOS, and even last year the Aznar government, in voting in favor of the resolution, had made clear this was not to be an automatic annual expectation. As have several senior MFA interlocutors over the past several days, Dezcallar said the GOS would play a positive role in helping to develop consensus on the resolution, and did not want to create complications for the US at a critical moment. ¶4. (C) On the ICC rollover, Polcouns asked the GOS to look at this resolution as a practical measure to allow non-Rome Treaty participants -- particularly the U.S. -- to continue to perform the responsibilities the UN has asked us to undertake, rather than as the moment to debate the philosophy of the ICC. He reaffirmed Spain very much preferred to abstain on the resolution, particularly if the USG has the votes to pass it. ¶5. (C) We asked Dezcallar for his impressions of the back-to-back visits of Israeli FM Shalom and Palestinian PM Qorei, which took place at the same time A/S Burns had visited (to be reported septel). Dezcallar said this is an extremely difficult moment in the Middle East, against the backdrop of the house demolitions and killings in Gaza. He said the Israelis were particularly tough on the issue and that the Palestinians were very depressed and lacked hope. We noted our desire to see other leadership than Arafat, but Dezcallar said ARAFAT maintains huge symbolic significance for the Palestinians, particularly now, and that he must be taken into account. Dezcallar urged positive gestures toward the Palestinians over the coming days. Polcouns asked whether Qorei had acknowledged the need to stem terrorist violence from Hamas and others. Dezcallar said he had, but that the overwhelming force used by Israel had given the Palestinians cover. He expressed appreciation for the US abstention on the UNSC resolution on the Gaza demolitions just the day before. ¶6. (C) Earlier that day, Polcouns had attended a speech by Qorei organized by a prominent Spanish think tank in association with the wall street journal. When asked by the leader of the Jewish Community in Madrid about the same issue, Qorei responded that he renounced all forms of terrorism but accused the Israeli government of state terrorism against the Palestinians in Gaza. He urged the Quartet to do their utmost to renew negotiations on the roadmap and stop Israeli demolitions and other incursions in the occupied territories. He also denied that Camp David and Taba had offered anything concrete to the Palestinians, and said the portrayal that the Palestinians had rejected opportunities for a two-state solution were lies. ¶8. (C) Dezcallar again expressed appreciation for the USG's strong support for the selection of Spanish Ambassador Ruperez to head the UN's counter-terrorism commission. The GOS sees this as a very good sign, he said. ARGYROS