PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, SPAIN'S VIEWS ON IRAQ, CHINA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 003951 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014 TAGS: PREL SP EUN SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, SPAIN'S VIEWS ON IRAQ, CHINA, LIBYA, SUDAN AND NORTH CYPRUS REF: A. STATE 214023 ¶B. MADRID 3839 ¶C. MADRID 3829 ¶D. MADRID 3937 Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleeen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Poloff discussed Iraq, China, Libya, Sudan, and North Cyprus with Enrique Mora Benavente, MFA Head of EU Planning, on October 6. Mora Benavente does not expect that Iraq will be discussed at the GAERC meetings. Spain's position on the China arms embargo remains unchanged; for example, a strengthened Code of Conduct would be sufficient to replace the embargo. The decision has already been made to lift sanctions and the arms embargo against Libya; the EU is now working on an appropriate Code of Conduct for Libya. Spain supports EU efforts helping the African Union in Sudan and will contribute humanitarian assistance, although there will be no bilateral contribution to the African Union force. Although, Spain supports increased economic cooperation with North Cyprus, only the 259 million euro aid package is likely to pass, due to Greek and Greek Cypriot opposition. END SUMMARY -------------- IRAQ -------------- ¶2. (C) Mora Benavente said Iraq would not be discussed at the GAERC meetings. He said the GOS will not contribute as a member state to the UN Protection Force in Iraq. (FYI: Spanish Defense Minister Bono had to retract a statement earlier this week indicating the GOS might send troops to Iraq under a UN request.) He added that Spain is still exploring police training options with USD 300 million that it has pledged towards Iraq, but the situation on the ground does not allow for cooperation at this moment. -------------- CHINA ARMS EMBARGO -------------- ¶3. (C) Spain believes that the Code of Conduct is sufficient to monitor arms sales to China. EUR/WE Director Kathleen Allegrone, Charge, and Poloff discussed U.S. concerns about the EU lifting the Chinese arms embargo while highlighting human rights concerns in separate meetings with a variety of Spanish MFA officials September 28-30 (Ref B). Mora Benavente said that there would be a discussion on lifting the arms embargo during lunch on October 11, but no final decision would be made until later. He added that eventually the arms embargo will be lifted as a political signal of EU efforts to foster better relations with China, but that the date could possibly be pushed back if that leads to increased cooperation with the U.S. and Japan on the issue. -------------- LIBYAN SANCTIONS -------------- ¶4. (C) The EU has already decided to announce the full lifting of sanctions against Libya, including its arms embargo. The partial lifting of the arms embargo to allow for border control equipment to stem the flow of illegal immigration will be the first step of the lifting of the embargo. Once a Code of Conduct is agreed upon, the full lifting of sanctions and the arms embargo will take place. The EU believes that Libya has abandoned its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist activities and is encouraged by Libya's agreement to settle with the EU victims of Lockerbie and LaBelle. (For more detail on GOS thinking on this issue, see Ref C.) -------------- SUDAN -------------- ¶5. (C) The GOS supports EU efforts in coordinating with the Australians and the U.S. to encourage the African Union to focus on rapid deployment of forces to improve the security situation in Darfur. Spain will be contributing humanitarian assistance to the victims in Darfur, but there will be no bilateral economic assistance outside of any EU efforts to the African Union force. The GOS concurs with U.S. views on the dire situation in Darfur, but is waiting for the conclusions of the commission of inquiry set up by UNSCR 1564 before deciding if the situation in Darfur should be called a genocide. -------------- NORTH CYPRUS -------------- ¶6. (C) Spain is very supportive of extending trade concessions and financial assistance to the Turkish Cypriots, but at recent EU meetings both Greece and Cyprus had opposed increased EU economic ties with North Cyprus, a change requiring unanimous consent. Mora Benavente said that the current EU goal is to extend economic assistance now and then push for trade considerations when the Greeks and Greek Cypriots are willing. Spain will support the 259 million euro aid package to North Cyprus when it comes to a vote. Benavente predicts the EU will approve the aid package, because an aid package to North Cyprus does not require unanimous consent (Ref D). ARGYROS