1. (C) Political Counselor conveyed reftel points March 23
to Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister Ramon Gil-Casares,
stressing the importance of passage of these resolutions for
the USG. We also passed our points to MFA's Human Rights and
International Organizations Departments. Juan Manuel
Cabrera, MFA Human Rights Office Director, stated that Spain
would study our points and would coordinate their response
within a common EU policy. We are working to schedule a
follow-up discussion with Gil-Casares or MFA Director General
for International Organizations as soon as possible after the
March 24 State Funerals for the victims of the March 11
terrorist attacks. Gil-Casares' chief of staff noted in
advance, however, that the current caretaker government would
have little room to maneuver on this or any other
international issues until the new Spanish government is in
place in late April.
ARGYROS