SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF NOV 22 GAERC: MEPP,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 004445 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014 TAGS: PREL SP EUN SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF NOV 22 GAERC: MEPP, CHINA, KOSOVO, BELARUS, CYPRUS, TURKEY, ESDP REF: A. STATE 244333 ¶B. MADRID 4444 Classified By: Poloff Ricardo Zuniga for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Poloff discussed the Middle East Peace Process, China, Kosovo, Belarus, Cyprus, ESDP issues, Iran, and Ukraine with MFA Deputy EU Correspondent Luis Canovas del Castillo on November 18. Poloff also discussed Spain's views on Turkey with Juan Aristegui, MFA Subdirector General on EU Issues, on October 18. Spain believes that there is currently an opportunity to explore Middle East peace options that focus around a two-state solution. Spain's views on the Chinese Arms Embargo, Kosovo, and Cyprus remain unchanged. Spain and the EU share U.S. concerns over Belarus's human rights abuses and election problems. Spain favors Turkish entry into the EU and believes accession talks should start without delay. Spain favors increased cooperation between the EU and NATO. Spain and other EU nations are likely to reward Iran for foresaking nuclear enrichment. END SUMMARY -------------- MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS -------------- ¶2. (C) Spain believes that there is currently a moment to push forward new ideas to promote peace in the Middle East. With a newly elected U.S. administration, Israel's possible pull-out from Gaza, and new leadership on the Palestinian side, there is now a chance to work towards peace. Spain is a strong proponent of EU security affairs chief Javier Solana's proposal to keep alive a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Spain particularly favors elements of the plan that include the supporting of funding for elections, more security on the ground, and financial assistance to the Palestinians. -------------- CHINA -------------- ¶3. (C) Spain continues to support a lifting of the Chinese Arms Embargo with a Code of Conduct. -------------- KOSOVO -------------- ¶4. (C) Canovas said that Kosovo was not on the agenda for the GAERC meetings, but the EU supports efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Soren Jessen-Petersen to transfer additional competencies to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) to build capacity and help them meet standards. -------------- BELARUS -------------- ¶5. (C) Spain and the EU share the U.S.'s concerns about the human rights situation in Belarus. Aleksandr Lukashenka leads an authoritarian regime whose goal is to perpetuate power. At the GAERC meetings, the EU will likely ratify conclusions of an EU report that condemns the Lukashenka regime. Additionally, the EU could possibly impose sanctions on Belarus. -------------- CYPRUS -------------- ¶6. (C) Spain's position within the EU is unchanged on aid and trade to North Cyprus. Spain supports efforts to assist North Cyprus with direct aid and increased trade and cooperation. -------------- TURKEY -------------- ¶7. (C) Spain has always favored Turkish entry into the EU. Aristegui told Poloff that Spain believes that Turkish accession talks should start without delay in 2005, but that Spain will try to work for an EU consensus and achieve a date for accession talks that is the best for Turkey's candidacy. EU members are awaiting the European Parliaments' first draft report on Turkey's ability to meet EU political criteria. According to Aristegui, this report could go against earlier recommendations of the European Commission that had been more optimistic about when Turkey might enter the EU. -------------- ESDP ISSUES -------------- ¶8. (C) Spain favors increased cooperation between the EU and NATO and respects the Berlin-Plus arrangements. The EU and NATO have worked well together in areas of the former Yugoslavia. Spain will form its own Battlegroup and is ready to cooperate with other allies. OTHER ISSUES -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶9. (C) EU member states will likely discuss Iran at the GAERC meetings. Spain believes that EU states should show more willingness to cooperate and trade with Iran after its recent gesture to stop nuclear enrichment. -------------- UKRAINE -------------- ¶10. C) The EU hopes for clean and fair elections in the Ukraine. Regardless of who wins the election, Spain will carry on a dialogue with the Ukrainian government, as Ukraine is an EU neighbor of strategic importance (Ref B). ARGYROS