Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID4116
2004-10-22 15:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPANISH ON ITER HOME

Tags:  TRGY TSPL TNGD ENRG SP 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004116 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/WE, STAS, EAP/J, AND OES/SAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2014
TAGS: TRGY TSPL TNGD ENRG SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH ON ITER HOME

REF: SECSTATE 223994

Classified By: ECONCOUNS WHITNEY BAIRD PER 1.4 (B/D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004116

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/WE, STAS, EAP/J, AND OES/SAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2014
TAGS: TRGY TSPL TNGD ENRG SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH ON ITER HOME

REF: SECSTATE 223994

Classified By: ECONCOUNS WHITNEY BAIRD PER 1.4 (B/D)


1. (U) ESTHOFF made reftel points October 19-22 to: (1)
Juan Antonio Rubio, Director General of the Center for
Energy, Environment, and Technology Investigation (CIEMAT);
(2) Francisco Javier Arana Landa, Deputy Director General for
Nuclear Energy, Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce;
(3) Carlos Alejaldre Losilla, Director General for Technology
Policy, Ministry of Science and Education; and, (4) Julio
Barcelo, Commissioner, Nuclear Security Council (CSN -
Spain's Nuclear Regulatory Commission equivalent).


2. (C) Arana said he agreed on the importance of
maintaining the six-party framework, arguing that it would
simply be too expensive for the world to pursue two ITERs
(one EU/Russia/China; the other U.S./Japan/South Korea). He
thought the initial French brush-off of the Japanese
"host/non-host" offer was merely a negotiating tactic
designed to exact as many concessions as possible from the
Japanese. He felt France would come around in the end and
provide Tokyo a more constructive response.


3. (C) Barcelo also agreed with our points, but unlike
Arana, was convinced that Paris was determined "for the glory
of France" to pursue an EU-centric ITER without U.S.
participation. Alejaldre, who will lead the Spanish team to
the Vienna meeting, told ESTHOFF that the session had been
postponed until November 9. He said Spain strongly supports
the six-party framework and will so argue at the November 9
meeting and within subsequent EU councils. Rubio also agreed
that staying with the six-party framework would be ideal. As
to whether Spain would lobby France to not go alone, Rubio
frankly responded, "it depends what France might offer Spain"
in the context of an EU-centric project.


4. (C) COMMENT: Four senior interlocutors; four different
visions. It is clear that we have a potential ally in Spain,
which lost out to France in the intra-EU contest to be the
ITER host. But, of course, the key question and big unknown
is whether this sympathy will result in Spain arguing
strenuously within EU councils to keep to the six-party
framework. One of the six major planks of Spain's "new"
Socialist Government is "the return to Europe." This has
often resulted in a "give the French and Germans what they
want" policy line. Our interlocutors, however, thought the
ITER has not been overly politicized (i.e., it remains off
the Socialist's radar screen). Thus, on balance, we believe
Spain will at least initially take our side on this one when
the EU sits down on November 25 to make its decision.
However, should France be serious about the EU going alone
(or without the U.S.),we should not expect Spain to fall on
its sword to defend the six-party framework.
ARGYROS