SPAIN AND UNSC IRAQ RESOLUTION: PROMISE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002163

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SP UNSC
SUBJECT: SPAIN AND UNSC IRAQ RESOLUTION: PROMISE OF
POSITIVE VOTE


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission J. Robert Manzanares,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Ambassador and DCM met June 8 with Spanish Foreign
Minister Moratinos to press him not only for a yes vote on
the UNSCR on Iraq, but a strong, positive explanation of the
vote that also included clear support for the Iraqi Interim
Government (IIG). As he had said publicly to the press,
Moratinos reaffirmed that Spain will vote in favor of the
resolution. When pressed on the explanation of vote,
Moratinos said the statement would be positive. He said he
has been in close contact with his UN representatives in New
York and they have clear instructions to be open and
constructive.


2. (C) Moratinos also noted that some less-than-positive
comments regarding the resolution from Zapatero and others in
Madrid,s leadership were politically driven. Though they
had said that the resolution did not quite fulfill all of
their requirements, in the end, said Moratinos, the vote
would be positive. Moratinos also said Spain wants to
continue working closely with the U.S. and will continue to
provide economic and political support to the IIG. The IIG
can count on the full support of the government of Spain, he
added. "You can count on the Spanish," averred Moratinos.


3. (C) When DCM later discussed this issue with Zapatero,s
national security advisor, Carles Casajuana, Casajuana said
Spain would vote in favor of the resolution. However, he was
somewhat less categorical that the explanation of the vote
would be completely positive; he said Spain wanted to mention
its humanitarian law concerns and its desire for a 3-month
Multinational Force reporting schedule to the Security
Council. DCM pressed for an unequivocally positive statement.
ARGYROS