FM MORATINOS URGES NORTH AFRICAN "COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001816

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE AND NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR SP
SUBJECT: FM MORATINOS URGES NORTH AFRICAN "COLLECTIVE
SECURITY" SYSTEM


Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (b)


1. (U) During a visit to Paris, FM Miguel Angel Moratinos
urged the governments of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,
and Mauritania to begin laying the groundwork for the
formation of a "collective security system" to help foster
regional stability. Moratinos acknowledged that his
recommendation was "very premature," but said the time had
come for North African countries to begin incorporating
military cooperation into their long term regional
integration plans. During a joint appearance with French FM
Barnier and Moroccan Deputy FM Fassi-Fehri, Moratinos
suggested that a "Maghrebi collective defense system" could
maintain relations with "Euromediterranean (countries) and
with NATO."


2. (C) On May 11, Poloff contacted Carlos Fernandez Arias,
MFA adviser on security issues to DG for Foreign Policy
Rafael Dezcallar and until recently the Office Director for
Maghreb Affairs, to request further information regarding
Moratinos' proposal. Arias said that Moratinos was not
announcing a new initiative; his statements were in line with
broader Spanish efforts to encourage North African
political/economic integration in order to stabilize Spain's
vulnerable southern flank. As an aside, Arias (protect) said
Moratinos' statement amounted to "wishful thinking" and said
it should be seen as a political statement intended to reduce
regional tensions rather than as an action plan. Arias said
Moratinos' comments did not imply any shift in Spanish views
regarding NATO's security relations with North African
countries.
MANZANARES