Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID2440
2004-06-29 11:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN: AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON INTERIOR

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002440 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON INTERIOR
MINISTER


Classified By: Ambassador George L. Argyros, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002440

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON INTERIOR
MINISTER


Classified By: Ambassador George L. Argyros, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, paid a courtesy call
June 24 on Minister of Interior Jose Antonio Alonso.
Ambassador thanked Alonso for all the support Embassy has
received on various security issues and commented on the
outreach already made by Alonso with his U.S. counterpart
(Alonso has spoken to DHS Secretary Ridge). Ambassador
encouraged continued contact between Alonso and Ridge and
suggested Alonso visit Washington at his earliest
convenience. Alonso agreed a U.S. visit was a good idea and
suggested perhaps late September or early October would be a
good time for the trip. Alonso also said he was happy with
the cooperation his ministry has had with U.S. Embassy
offices and said the change in government should not affect
those excellent relationships. In fact, he hoped they would
grow stronger, especially in the area of counter-terrorism.


2. (C) Ambassador raised the upcoming visit of the Visa
Waiver Program team with Alonso. Ambassador explained the
team would visit to review Spain's continued eligibility to
participate in the visa waiver program and asked that all
elements within the Ministry of Interior cooperate with the
team. Alonso said he would ensure his ministry was helpful
and forthcoming with the team.


3. (C) Ambassador asked Alonso for his latest thinking on
the National Counter-terrorism Coordination Center that Spain
is considering establishing. Alonso stated it would start
out as an analysis and risk evaluation organization and
eventually the future center would change to produce
strategic plans and perhaps be more operational. Alonso said
Spain was not the only country looking at this concept --
other countries in the EU were also doing the same, and in
fact High Representative Solana had presented a plan in the
EU. Spain's concept is to implement the new center
gradually. It will likely start out small with about 40
staff.


4. (C) Ambassador asked Alonso about the challenge the GOS
faces trying to foster greater coordination between the
Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard. Alonso said
coordination problems were a concern but were not unique to
Spain. Both police entities have closed cultures which are
hard to change. Getting them to share databases is the first
step.


5. (C) Alonso mentioned the GOS is trying to get a handle on
Islamic terrorism in Spain. He said there is a lack of
information and analysis relating to the problem, not only in
Spain but also in the EU. In spite of having millions of
Muslims living in the EU, Europeans know very little about
them.


6. (C) Ambassador reviewed all the law enforcement
representatives present at post and offered any assistance
Spanish authorities needed on counter-terrorism, security or
any other matter. Alonso proposed that representatives of
the various agencies meet at the technical level on a
frequent basis and discuss specific agenda items. Ambassador
informed Alonso him we were in the process of doing just that
and an early July meeting had been scheduled where DCM and
Director General for Security Camacho would bring together
the appropriate staff members and meet.


7. (C) Ambassador asked Alonso whether the GOS was
considering amendments to Spain's criminal laws that would
allow suspects be detained until more information was
obtained. Alonso, who is a former judge, responded it was
not a matter of the law needing reform. Under the Spanish
system the judges own the investigation and they see each
individual case on its own merit rather than seeing the case
as part of the overall terrorism conflict. Rather, he said,
the GOS was using administrative deportation procedures to
get rid of problematic suspects. Laws will not be reformed
in his view -- they are harsh enough. The GOS is, however,
looking at easing wiretap requirements so they are similar to
French norms. In Spain, police currently must have
permission from judges before they can perform wiretaps.
Alonso said he did not know if public opinion would accept a
change in this practice.


8. (C) The Ambassador urged the GOS should continue its
strong efforts to tighten laws on terrorism financing. Great
progress has been made but more work needs to be done to
refine the laws. Alonso agreed and said the GOS understood
the important link between curbing terrorism financing and
stopping terrorism. He noted that the Basque terrorist group
ETA has become much weaker as a result of losing a lot of its
financial support.

ARGYROS