SPAIN PLEDGES A GENEROUS RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI

UNCLAS MADRID 000105

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AEMR PGOV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN PLEDGES A GENEROUS RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI
DISASTER

REF: STATE 03792


1. Summary: The GOS has pledged a robust EUR 56 million (USD
74 million) aid package to the Asian countries inundated by
the December tsunami. This package includes EUR 50 million
(USD 66.1 million) in reconstruction credits and EUR 6
million (USD 7.9 million) in humanitarian assistance. In
addition, the GOS will deploy nearly 600 soldiers, three
planes and a naval vessel in the region to assist the aid
mission. End Summary.


2. Providing humanitarian assistance to Asian countries
affected by the tsunami is a major priority for the GOS.
Foreign Minister Moratinos and Secretary of State for
International Assistance Leire Pajin departed Jan 10 for a
fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia.
Secretary General of Spain's aid agency (AECI) represented

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Spain in the February 11 UN meeting in Geneva. Spain's aid
package will amount to over EUR 56 million (USD 74 million).
Spain's aid effort is being supported by the military, which
is deploying a force of almost 600 soldiers, three planes and
several ships in the region.

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Aid Package
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3. We spoke with Cabinet Advisor to the Secretary of State
for International Aid David del Campo to confirm Spain's aid
contribution. Del Campo stated that Spain pledged EUR 50
million (USD 66.1 million) in Official Development Assistance
credits for reconstruction, and will spend at least EUR 6
million (USD 7.9 million) on emergency humanitarian
assistance. The GOS plans to send a plane of emergency
assistance every 10 days until the situation has improved.
Should the acute humanitarian situation be prolonged, the
amount of aid provided will increase.


4. Spain's emergency humanitarian assistance includes at
least EUR 1 million (USD 1.3 million) donated by the
governments of Spain's autonomous regions. The regional
government of Catalonia and Catalan municipal governments
provided EUR 480 thousand (USD 635 thousand) of regional
contributions.

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High Level Political Interest
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5. President Zapatero held a press conference on January 8 to
publicize Spain's response to the tsunami disaster. He
dispatched January 10 Foreign Minister Moratinos and
Secretary of State for International Aid Leire Pajin to the

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region to meet with officials in Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Indonesia. In delivering reftel, we learned that the AECI
Secretary General Juan Pablo de Laiglesia represented Spain

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at the January 11 UN Donor's Conference in Geneva. Defense
Minister Bono also worked closely with President Zapatero and
other ministers on Spain's humanitarian response.

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Military Deployment
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6. Econoff spoke with The Ministry of Defense's Deputy
Director General for Cooperation and Civil Defense General
Jose Antonio Company Follana regarding Spain's military
deployment in support of humanitarian efforts in the tsunami
zone. General Company confirmed that Spain would soon deploy
a total force of 594 troops in the region. Five transport
planes were sent to Sumatra, and three will remain deployed
in the region along with the first tranche of 70 troops.
Spain will also send an amphibious ship, with a unit of
engineers, a mobile hospital and helicopters.


7. Comment. The GOS has made its humanitarian response to the
Southeast Asian tsunami a high profile issue. Spain's
relatively generous aid package of EUR 56 million to a
humanitarian disaster is noteworthy for a country that was
itself an aid recipient during the past two decades. The
Socialist government has promised to increase international
assistance during the next four years. Spain's large tsunami
aid package and its efforts at the highest governmental
levels certainly indicate the GOS commitment to keeping that
pledge. We can also posit that the Zapatero government might
view aid policy as an area where Spain is can take a more
active international role in the next few years.
MANZANARES