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