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