Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID649
2004-02-25 15:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN AGAINST FULL WEOG PARTICIPATION FOR ISRAEL

Tags:  PREL IS EU AORC SP UN 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000649 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2014
TAGS: PREL IS EU AORC SP UN
SUBJECT: SPAIN AGAINST FULL WEOG PARTICIPATION FOR ISRAEL

REF: STATE 38273

Classified By: Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor, for Reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000649

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2014
TAGS: PREL IS EU AORC SP UN
SUBJECT: SPAIN AGAINST FULL WEOG PARTICIPATION FOR ISRAEL

REF: STATE 38273

Classified By: Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor, for Reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Please see action request in paragraph 4.


2. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to Inigo de Palacio, MFA
Director of UN Affairs, on February 24. De Palacio stated
that while Spain and the EU would support renewing Israel's
WEOG New York membership in May, the EU's common policy is to
"give a flat no" to granting Israel full WEOG privileges.
According to De Palacio, Europe agreed to WEOG New York
membership for Israel because the New York forum does not
involve political coordination. He added that the GOS "does
not want to have to discuss political issues with Israel in
Geneva", as he believes Israel disregards the decisions that
the UNHRC passes on Israeli matters. Furthermore, De Palacio
stated that Israel does not belong in WEOG, and that Europe
only allowed their inclusion in WEOG New York to be fair to
Israel since the Israelis were excluded from the Asia group.


3. (C) De Palacio claimed that limited WEOG membership for
Israel had explicitly been a condition when Europe agreed to
their temporary inclusion. Regarding the reftel talking
point that mentions that Australia and New Zealand were not
members of WEOG Nairobi, De Palacio said he was surprised, as
he believes that Australia and New Zealand are full members
of all WEOG venues. He asked for Washington's reasoning
behind that claim.


4. (C) Action request. Per De Palacio's request for
clarification of the statement that Australia and New Zealand
are not members of WEOG Nairobi, Post requests background on
the status and extent of WEOG membership for Australia and
New Zealand. End action request.
MANZANARES