SPAIN SUPPORTS EU ROAD MAP ON NORMALIZING LIBYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003829

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV SP EUN
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS EU ROAD MAP ON NORMALIZING LIBYA
RELATIONS

REF: STATE 207640

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Poloff delivered reftel talking points to
Enrique Mora Benavente, Head of EU Planning at the MFA, on
September 29. Mora Benavente told Poloff that Spain favors
the four-step European "road map" to normalized relations and
economic cooperation with Libya. The four-step process
includes: (1) the partial lifting of the arms embargo with
Libya to allow for the sale of border control equipment, (2)
the complete lifting of the arms embargo, (3) the
normalization of relations with Libya, including accession to
the Barcelona Process, and (4) increased trade and economic
relations. To reach each step Libya would have to achieve
certain benchmarks linked to settlement of terrorist claims
or human rights improvements. Mora Benavente was unaware of
any recent terrorist activities of Libya. END SUMMARY


2. (C) The first step of the EU "road map" for Libya which
will be discussed at the GAERC meetings on October 11
includes the partial lifting of the arms embargo to allow for
border control equipment to stem the flow of illegal
immigration. The EU will likely take this first step as a
result of the progress they have seen recently in Libya's
efforts to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
program. Spain and other EU members would be willing to lift
the arms embargo against Libya as a second step provided that
two conditions are met. First, Libya must settle with the EU
victims of Lockerbie and LaBelle. Second, the EU must firmly
be convinced that Libya has abandoned its pursuit of a WMDs
program; this would include confirmation from the
International Atomic Energy Association concerning the status
of Libya's nuclear programs.


3. (C) The third step of the "road map", the normalization
of relations with Libya, would be connected to the resolution
of the Bulgarian medics issue. Mora Benavente said that many
EU states are convinced that Libya has made the strategic
decision to become a normal member of the world community.
This step could include Libya's entering the Barcelona
Process where members pledge to promote and strengthen peace,
stability and security in the Mediterranean region. The
fourth step of the "road map" would be the negotiating
economic and political reform that could eventually lead to a
trade agreement and increased economic cooperation. As an
aside, Mora Benavente added that the Syrian government is
currently involved in negotiations to achieve increased
economic cooperation with the EU.


4. (C) When Poloff told Mora Benavente that the U.S. still
had serious concerns regarding Libya's role in terrorist
activities, he said that according to Spanish information,
the Libyan government had given up support of terrorism.
When asked about the alleged involvement of Libya in the 2003
assassination plot against Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Mora
Benavente responded that the plot was an internal Arab
problem and not likely the deliberate actions of the Libyan
govenment; he compared the plot to an attempted mafia hit.


5. (C) Mora Benavente said that the GOS shares many of the
concerns of the USG and that is the reason that benchmarks
are incorporated at each stage of the process of the
normalization of relations. He conceded that there were no
benchmarks related to terrorist activities, but he reiterated
that many EU states believe that Libya has made the strategic
decision to abandon both the pursuit of WMDs and terrorist
activity. He added that some nations like Italy and the
United Kingdom would like to see the EU move quickly on this
issue, while other nations, including many Nordic countries,
would like to see the EU be more deliberate in its approach
due to human rights concerns.
MANZANARES