Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID3699
2004-09-24 15:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPANISH OFFICIALS REACT TO PRESIDENT BUSH REMARKS

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS SP 
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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 MADRID 003699 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
NSC FOR FRIED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH OFFICIALS REACT TO PRESIDENT BUSH REMARKS
ON IRAQ WITHDRAWAL

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires J. Robert Manzanares,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003699

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
NSC FOR FRIED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH OFFICIALS REACT TO PRESIDENT BUSH REMARKS
ON IRAQ WITHDRAWAL

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires J. Robert Manzanares,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Spanish officials have reacted defensively to
President Bush's remarks concerning Spain's withdrawal from
Iraq, made at his September 23 joint press conference with
Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Allawi. During a courtesy call
by Charge and Econcouns September 24, the MFA's Director
General for Europe and North America, Jose Maria Pons, said
the Spanish government was "surprised" by President Bush's
remarks, and the Spanish government is doing a "quick
analysis" of the comments. He added that Zapatero never
mentioned the United States by name in his comments in Tunis.
(Note: On September 9 in Tunis, Zapatero said the situation
in Iraq would improve if other countries were to withdraw
their troops as Spain did. End note.) Pons reminded Charge
and Econcouns that every Friday the Council of Ministers
meets and First Vice President de la Vega gives a press
conference afterward. He expected de la Vega to comment on
President Bush's remarks.


2. (SBU) At the press conference following the Council of
Ministers meeting, de la Vega was rather controlled, saying
"Our decision to withdraw the troops was made with the
overwhelming support of the Spanish people, and was announced
months before the attacks in Madrid. We have three decades
of experience fighting ETA, Grapa and al Qaeda. We will
continue to do so firmly and consistent with national and
international law." She concluded by saying the Spanish
government would not formally protest the president's remarks.


3. (SBU) But the Socialist Party's spokesperson on
Congress's foreign affairs committee, Rafael Estrella
(normally a strong supporter of close U.S.-Spain relations),
reacted in a less measured fashion, telling the press "what
Bush said is untrue, because the withdrawal of Spanish troops
(from Iraq) was a commitment of the Socialist Party in the
event the UN did not assume responsibility for the situation
in Iraq. Since this did not happen, it was decided to
withdraw the troops." According to Estrella, it wasn't the
withdrawal of Spanish troops that "emboldened the terrorists"
in Iraq because "before the war and the invasion there was no
terrorism there." It has been the "illegal war and the way
in which political change has occurred that has plunged the
country into chaos and is fueling terrorism." Bush should
"correct" his policies in Iraq rather than "transfer
responsibility to those who have fulfilled their campaign
promises consistent with international law."


4. (U) President Zapatero thus far has not reacted to
President Bush's comments.


5. (C) Comment: The Zapatero government and the Socialist
Party remain intensely sensitive to the charge that the
Socialists won the March 14 election as a result of the March
11 terrorist attacks in Madrid. In that sense it is little
surprise Spanish officials -- even the normally pro-U.S.
Estrella -- have reacted defensively to the president's
comments.
MANZANARES