SPAIN LOOKS TO SYRIA RELATIONS AND UNSC ROLE TO

S E C R E T MADRID 002992

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER IZ SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN LOOKS TO SYRIA RELATIONS AND UNSC ROLE TO
ADDRESS SYRIA-IRAQ BORDER SECURITY

REF: STATE 166961

Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor.
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)

(S) We delivered reftel points encouraging Spain to express
serious concern
over anti-Iraq activity in Syrian territory on August 5 to
Ignacio de
Cartagena, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Director of Middle
Eastern Affairs at
the Spanish Foreign Ministry (MFA). De Cartagena told us
that the MFA was
familiar with the issue of foreign, anti-Iraqi extremists
entering Syria and
using its territory as a safe heaven. He explained that
Spain's new socialist
government had maintained the former administration's policy
of maintaining
cordial relations with Syria based on mutual understanding.
Given this
relationship, Spain would be willing to express its concern
to the Syrian
government and, possibly, take steps to address the
Iraq-Syria border security
issue in its role as president of the UN Security Council in
September. De
Cartagena said he would relay our points further up the chain
of command as
senior officials return from August leave.
MANZANARES