Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MADRID2186
2005-06-08 10:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPANISH RESPONSE TO AFRICAN UNION AIRLIFT DEMARCHE

Tags:  PREL MARR SP SU NATO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002186 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISP (P. GRAFF)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR SP SU NATO
SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO AFRICAN UNION AIRLIFT DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 103310

Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo F. Zuniga reasons 1.4(b) and (
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002186

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISP (P. GRAFF)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR SP SU NATO
SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO AFRICAN UNION AIRLIFT DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 103310

Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo F. Zuniga reasons 1.4(b) and (
d).


1. (C) Summary: Spain has opted to go the European Union
route in offering assistance to the African Union Mission in
Sudan (AMIS). Spain has donated two small tactical transport
planes to the AU as part of the EU effort, and has lent along
with the planes Spanish pilots and maintenance workers who
will fly and maintain the planes until the AU is able to do
those things itself. Spain is also sending five military
observers. Spain supports NATO's involvement with AMIS and
has no objections if other countries want to participate via
NATO. The GOS believes both NATO and the EU have valuable
experience to offer and does not want AMIS to get bogged down
due to "bickering" over whether assistance should be offered
through the EU or through NATO. End summary.


2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points June 7 to Manuel
Acerete, the MFA's Deputy Director General for International
Security. Acerete said that while Spain understood the
reasoning behind the U.S. position, Spain had decided to
offer assistance to the AU via the EU, rather than NATO.
According to Acerete, until just before the May 26 conference
in Addis Ababa, Spain did not plan on making any
contributions to the effort because it felt it was already
overstretched with its operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans
and Haiti. But "under great pressure from the EU," Spain
decided to donate the two transport planes, lend necessary
personnel to operate them, and provide five military
observers.


3. (C) Acerete pointed out that the EU has been involved
with AMIS since 2004. Spain believes an EU role in AMIS is
important because the EU has much to offer the AU, and being
seen by the Africans lending assistance aids the political
relationship between the EU and African countries.


4. (C) Finally, Acerete said the GOS hopes both the EU and
NATO will provide useful assistance to AMIS without getting
bogged down "bickering" between them about who can do the job
better. Both have capabilities to offer the AU, the
organizations can complement each other, and the goal should
be providing meaningful help to the AU, Acerete emphasized.


MANZANARES