SPAIN: DEMARCHE ON COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

UNCLAS MADRID 001576 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: DEMARCHE ON COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES ELECTION STANDARDS INITIATIVE REF: STATE 71941 Poloff discussed Secretary Rice's concept paper, "Developing Election Standards and Assessment Mechanisms for the Community of Democracies," with Carlos Fernandez-Arias, Special Assistant to Rafael Dezcallar, MFA Director General for Foreign Policy, on April 21. Poloff told Fernandez-Arias that the Election Standards Initiative was a priority of Secretary Rice and that the USG was seeking support for the SIPDIS idea and approval for a working group on the proposal at the Community of Democracies Ministerial in Santiago April 28-30. Poloff asked Fernandez-Arias to make Dezcallar and Foreign Minister Moratinos aware of Secretary Rice's desire for Spain's support. Fernandez-Arias said Spain was interested in the proposal and he would circulate the paper within the MFA and to senior leadership. Fernandez-Arias also asked Poloff if the U.S. had made a statement regarding the recent crisis in Ecuador. Poloff sent Fernandez-Arias information from the "Washington File" that included statements by Secretary Rice and the White House on the current situation SIPDIS in Ecuador. We will continue to pursue this matter with MFA leadership. MANZANARES