SPAIN: RESPONSE TO SECOND ROUND OF UKRAINIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004430

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CIS COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: RESPONSE TO SECOND ROUND OF UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

REF: STATE 240442

Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo Zuniga.
Reason 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Poloffs met with the MFA desk officer for Russia and
Eastern European affairs, Marta Ruiz, 11/16 to encourage
Spain's participation in the second round of presidential
election in the Ukraine set for November 21 and to hear GOS
views on imposing visa restrictions on Ukrainian officials
who have engaged in electoral fraud or manipulation (reftel).
Ruiz told us that Spain agrees that the previous election
round did not meet international standards. She added that
although the GOS would like to see the OSCE augment its
international election observer presence for the second
round, Spain does not plan to participate in it. Ruiz
explained that Spain is currently resolving legal differences
with the OSCE over funding for Spanish participation in OSCE
election observer missions. She added that the GOS expects
the legal issue to be resolved in the coming months so that
Spanish OSCE members can participate in future missions.


2. (C) On the issue of visa bans against Ukrainian
officials involved in electoral fraud, Ruiz told poloffs that
because Spain is party to the Schengen visa agreements, it
cannot introduce a travel ban without the approval of all
Schengen members. She added that any travel restriction
measures would also have to be discussed within the EU and
would not have an immediate effect on prohibiting the travel
of Ukrainian official who are found to have engaged in
electoral fraud.
ARGYROS