ADDRESSING VWP REVIEW CONCERNS

UNCLAS MADRID 001131 SIPDIS State for CA/VO/F/P attn: Deborah de la Rosa E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS CMGT PREL KPAO SP SUBJECT: ADDRESSING VWP REVIEW CONCERNS REF: (A) 05 STATE 47885, (B) 04 State 193706 ¶1. CHARGE AND CONSUL GENERAL PRESENTED DEMARCHES AS INSTRUCTED IN REF A TO GOS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF INTERIOR. ¶2. MARCH 21, 2005, CHARGE AND CG PRESENTED DEMARCHE IN REF A TO JOSE MARIA PONS IRAZAZABAL, DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR NORTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. PONS WAS PLEASED THAT SPAIN WOULD CONTINUE ON THE VWP. HE SAID HE SAW EVERY REASON FOR US TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY ON DOCUMENT SECURITY AS THIS WAS IN BOTH COUNTRIES' INTEREST. CG SEPARATELY MADE CONTACT WITH DIR GEN FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS, WHO CONCURRED IN THE SENTIMENTS. MFA WILL COORDINATE WITH US IN EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF SPANISH TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. ¶3. MARCH 22, 2005, CHARGE AND CG PRESENTED DEMARCHE IN REF A TO ANTONIO CAMACHO, STATE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR. CAMACHO CONFIRMED THE COMMITMENT OF THE GOS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND PROPOSED A MEETING FOLLOWING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS FOR EXPERTS ON BOTH SIDES TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST. SPANISH NATIONAL POLICE, WHO COME UNDER MOI AUTHORITY, HAVE ALREADY NAMED A POINT OF CONTACT FOR DISCUSSIONS OF CASE SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF MISUSE OF SPANISH DOCUMENTS AND FOR REPORTING OF LOST/STOLEN DOCUMENTS. MANZANARES