SPAIN ENCOURAGES EU ACTION ON MAOIST VIOLENCE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002963 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2014 TAGS: PTER KTDB NP SP EUN SUBJECT: SPAIN ENCOURAGES EU ACTION ON MAOIST VIOLENCE IN NEPAL REF: STATE 159970 Classified By: KATHLEEN M. FITZPATRICK, POLITICAL COUNSELOR. REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) (C) We met with Carlos Morales, Deputy Director General for Continental Asia (and former Deputy DG for Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Philippines Affairs) to hear Spain's reaction to Maoist violence in Nepal and EU initiatives to freeze Maoist assets and prevent fundraising in Europe (reftel). Morales told us that Spain considered Maoist violence in Nepal to be acts of terrorism. Nevertheless, he believed that the government of Nepal should negotiate with Maoist groups to stop the violence and work to prevent further human rights violations by the Royal Nepal Army. Morales stated that Maoist organizations do not have assets or fund raising activities in Spain. Spain would be willing to encourage the EU to freeze Maoist assets and prevent fund-raising for Maoist groups in Europe. The EU is likely to address this issue at the next EU Foreign Minister's meeting scheduled September 13-14. MANZANARES