Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MADRID2609
2005-07-12 09:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JULY 18-19 FOREIGN

Tags:  EAID PREL SP UN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

120934Z Jul 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002609 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2015
TAGS: EAID PREL SP UN
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JULY 18-19 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 124856

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002609

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2015
TAGS: EAID PREL SP UN
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE JULY 18-19 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 124856

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


1. (C) Per reftel instructions, poloff discussed Turkey, the
UN High-Level Event on Millennium Review, Syria, Iran and
Uzbekistan with Carlos Fernandez-Arias, MFA EU Policy
Coordinator (and Special Assistant to MFA Political Director
Dezcallar) on July 11.

--------------
Turkey
--------------

2. (C) Fernandez-Arias said Spain has always been a supporter
of Turkey's accession to the European Union, and that has not
changed. Spain plans to support the current schedule for EU
accession talks with Turkey to begin on October 3.
Fernandez-Arias then added that Spain recognizes that there
may be shifts in the EU consensus on this issue, particularly
with the upcoming German elections, and it will re-evaluate
its position to take into account that consensus.

--------------
UN High-Level Event
--------------

3. (SBU) Fernandez-Arias said that Spain was in complete
agreement on goals for the UN High-Level Event on Millennium
Review. He affirmed Spain's belief that the Monterrey
Consensus was about partnership between rich and poor
countries, working together for development goals. Spain
supports the United States' belief in the importance of
democratic and economic reform and institution building,
processes which take time but bring long-term benefits to the
developing world.


4. (SBU) Spain also agrees on the need to move forward on
areas of UN reform where there is broad consensus, and
Fernandez-Arias communicated that Spain would not support
holding up other areas of reform to while negotiating changes
to the UN Security Council, which will likely take time.

--------------
Syria and Lebanon
--------------

5. (C) Fernandez-Arias said Spain was in agreement with the
need to support the new Lebanese government, and understands
as well the need to be strict with Syria. Nonetheless, Spain
feels that there needs to be "political breathing room" for
Syria, to give opposition forces the chance to maneuver. The
Spanish believe that even if the EU does not move forward
immediately on its Association Agreement with Syria, it
should not take the agreement off the table entirely, which
would merely leave Syria on the defensive, and would not in
any event deter the Syrian security services, for whom the
agreement is not important. Given the changes and reforms
going on all around Syria, Spain thinks it best to show its
support for positive movements in Lebanon, Iraq and the
Palestinian Authority, thereby showing Syria the best way
forward.

--------------
Iran
--------------

6. (C) Fernandez-Arias expressed Spain's appreciation for US
support of the EU-3, and said Spain agrees that the EU should
continue to be firm with Iran about its nuclear commitments,
and should report Iran to the UN Security Council in case of
any breach of the Paris Agreement. He said that Spain also
thinks the USG's allowing Iran to enter into negotiations to
join the WTO was a helpful gesture that will pay off.


7. (C) Fernandez-Arias admitted that there is much
trepidation in the Spanish MFA following the Iranian
elections, and agreed that there were certainly flaws in the
election process.

--------------
Uzbekistan
--------------

8. (C) Fernandez-Arias said Spain agrees with reftel points
on Uzbekistan, and stated that in light of the passing of
the June 30 deadline, the EU already has concrete measures
planned: an arms embargo and visa restrictions. As far as
Spain knows, those plans are not being moderated. The Spanish
are concerned because they use an Uzbek military base for
their operations in Afghanistan, but if necessary, he said
the GOS would seek other options in the region.
AGUIRRE