SPAIN FAVORS NICARAGUA MANPADS DESTRUCTION

S E C R E T MADRID 002296

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE; ALSO FOR PM/WRA (M.ADAMS)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2015
TAGS: MARR PARM PREL PTER SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN FAVORS NICARAGUA MANPADS DESTRUCTION

REF: STATE 100646

Classified By: Ricardo Zuniga, Political Officer.
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)

(S) Poloff met with the Spanish Foreign Ministry's chief of
staff to the deputy director of International Disarmament
Affairs, Luis Gomez, June 14 to discuss Spain's support for
the USG proposal urging the Government of Nicaragua to
destroy its existing MANPADS stockpile (reftel). Gomez
agreed the GoN should fulfill its pledge to destroy its
remaining MANPADS. However, the MFA would have to consult
with its embassy in Managua before being able to comment on
what action Spain could take to approach the GoN on this
issue, Gomez stated. He added that this issue might also be
informally raised at a June 27-30 conference that Spain is
co-hosting with Argentina in Managua to discuss
non-proliferation activities under UNSC 1540, the PSI, and
the CSI in Latin America.

MANZANARES