SPANISH POSITION ON UNSC 1540 IMPLEMENTATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002961 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2014 TAGS: PREL KNNP PK SP UNSC SUBJECT: SPANISH POSITION ON UNSC 1540 IMPLEMENTATION DEADLOCK REF: STATE 165385 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. We delivered reftel demarch to Juan Manuel Gonzalez de Linares, MFA Deputy Director Genral of UN Affairs, and Enrique de Yturriaga, Special Assistant to the Director General of the Coordination Unit for Spain's Participation in the UNSC, on August 2. Gonzalez de Linares and Yturriaga stated that GOS would support US efforts on UNSC 1540 related to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) among non-state actors. Spain originally offered to co-sponsor UNSC 1540 to add additional teeth to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Additionally, the GOS would like to thank USG for proposed amendments to the draft Presidential Statement concerning the criminal court for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. End Summary. ¶2. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to Juan Manuel Gonzalez de Linares, MFA Deputy Director General of UN Affairs, on August 2. Gonzalez de Linares stated that GOS supports US efforts on UNSC 1540 related to the non-proliferation of WMD among non-state actors. He said that the GOS has always been a strong supporter in the fight against terrorism and the fight against WMD. GOS believes that all member states should comply with UNSC 1540, and GOS does not see any problems with the committee's Terms of Reference. GOS will support Romania if they bring this issue forward. Gonzalez de Linares believes that Pakistan is alone in their position of seeking further delays. ¶3. (C) Additionally, reftel demarche was delivered to Enrique de Yturriaga, Special Assistant to the Director General of the Coordination Unit for Spain's Participation in the UNSC, on August 2. Yturriaga also stated that GOS would fully support other Security Council members in encouraging Pakistan to stop delaying implementation of UNSC 1540. He expected that Pakistan would continue to use stall tactics but would eventually yield to international pressure. ¶4. (C) We also solicited Spain's general view of UNSC 1540 in a July 30 meeting with Marcos Rodriguez, Deputy Director General-designate for International Disarmament Affairs. Rodriguez stated that Spain offered to co-sponsor the resolution to give extra legal and political teeth to the PSI. Spanish officials expected Pakistan to slow down the implementation of UNSC 1540. The GOS is now drafting a national report on how to implement UNSC 1540 that should be completed by the end of October. ¶5. (C) Gonzalez de Linares added that the GOS would like to thank USG for the US proposed amendments on the draft Presidential Statement concerning the criminal court for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. GOS appreciates and supports the changes, and GOS believes that the US additions make the statement stronger. MANZANARES