SPANISH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON FEBRUARY 23-24 EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000607

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2014
TAGS: PREL SP EUN
SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON FEBRUARY 23-24 EU
FMS MEETING

REF: A. STATE 34712


B. STATE 35969

Classified By: Colin Cleary, Deputy Political Counselor, for Reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) We delivered reftel demarches on February 20 to
Enrique Mora, Director of the MFA's Office of EU Foreign
Policy and Common Security.


2. (C) Regarding reftel A topics, Mora stated that the
discussion on Afghanistan will include the EU's concern that
the references to Islam in the Afghan constitution are
"dangerous in the medium-term". On funding, he said that
there were no plans for the GOS to increase its current
financial commitments in Afghanistan. Mora added that he did
not know of any interest to renegotiate the Bonn Accord, and
that the topic was not on the agenda.


3. (C) Mora said the group would hear reports from Javier
Solana on Pakistan-India and on SFOR operations in the
Balkans. While he said that economic assistance to Pakistan
was not on the agenda, Mora stated that it was Spain's
opinion that Pakistan was a state that needed meet its
nonproliferation responsibilities before aid could increase.


4. (C) On reftel B themes, Mora stated that he thought
discussions would center on reasserting the EU's previous
positions towards Russia regarding the accession of the new
EU member states in May. He said that Russia has been
pressing the EU to have some of the new member states
continue to honor preferential bilateral trade deals with
Russia, even if they violate existing EU laws and treaties.
Mora said that this was a non-starter with EU members, and
that he expected them to forcefully reiterate this point.
While he said that Spain shares USG concerns on democracy in
Russia, he did not know if the theme would be addressed at
this meeting.
MANZANARES