Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MADRID1748
2005-05-09 13:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN-VENEZUELA ARMS TRANSFERS: DEMARCHE ON U.S.

Tags:  MASS MARR PREL SP VZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001748 

SIPDIS

PM, WHA/AND, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2015
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL SP VZ
SUBJECT: SPAIN-VENEZUELA ARMS TRANSFERS: DEMARCHE ON U.S.
THIRD-PARTY TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS

REF: STATE 79694

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001748

SIPDIS

PM, WHA/AND, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2015
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL SP VZ
SUBJECT: SPAIN-VENEZUELA ARMS TRANSFERS: DEMARCHE ON U.S.
THIRD-PARTY TRANSFER REQUIREMENTS

REF: STATE 79694

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) Poloff met with MFA Office Director for International
Disarmament and Terrorism Issues Marcos Rodriguez on May 9 to
convey reftel points on U.S. third-party transfer
requirements related to Spain's sale of weapons to Venezuela.
Rodriguez (protect) said that he was "one of many" in the
MFA who believed both the arms sale and the Zapatero
government's entire approach to Venezuela were serious
mistakes. Nevertheless, the arms sale had been concluded and
Rodriguez said it made sense to begin focusing on details
related to the transfer. He thanked poloff for the demarche
and said he would relay the USG points to the MOD and other
participants in Spain's interagency team that will oversee
the weapons sale.


2. (C) Rodriguez said that internal discussions had been
underway for some time on possible USG objections to elements
of the sale to Venezuela. It was his understanding that the
aircraft in question (CN-235 and CN-295) would be sold to
Venezuela in their most basic configuration and the GOS
calculated that the USG would be unlikely to object to that
transfer. However, GOS officials were much less confident
regarding the four coastal patrol boats and the four
"ocean-going patrol boats." Though the GOS has not made a
final determination regarding the configuration of the eight
vessels, the technological complexity of the ships makes it
more likely that there will be components which the USG would
not like to see transferred to Venezuela. Rodriguez said he
would provide the Embassy any GOS feedback regarding reftel
points and assured poloff of Spain's desire to avoid any
miscommunication on the weapons transfer to Venezuela.
MANZANARES