INTERNATIONAL MISSION FOR IRAQ ELECTIONS: SPAIN

UNCLAS MADRID 000156

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SP
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MISSION FOR IRAQ ELECTIONS: SPAIN
FUNDING UNDP

REF: 04 STATE 274965


1. Poloff conveyed reftel points on the International Mission
for Iraq Elections (IMIE) to Deputy Director General for the
Near East Alberto Moreno on January 3. Moreno thanked poloff
for the information and said he would respond at a later date
with GOS views. On January 11, we learned from a separate
MFA contact that Spain had provided $20 million to the UNDP
in support of the January 30 Iraq elections, a gesture the
MFA source implied was aimed at improving bilateral relations
with the USG as much as at helping the Iraqi carry out their
elections (Further elaboration will be provided septel).


2. Poloff contacted Moreno on January 12 to discuss the
Spanish contribution to the UNDP and possible GOS support for
the IMIE. Moreno said that the $20 million GOS transfer to
UNDP to support the Iraq elections came from Spain's $300
million commitment made during the Iraq Donors Conference.
He said there were no further funds or other support
available for IMIE, but that he believed the Spanish
contribution would complement IMIE efforts. Moreno noted
that the GOS had significant concerns about the difficulty of
carrying out the elections, but saw no alternative to moving
forward with a vote as quickly as possible. In Spain's view,
the officials elected in the upcoming elections will enjoy
greater credibility locally and internationally than the
current authorities, a fact that should contribute to
improved security for the Iraqi people.
MANZANARES