SPAIN STATEMENTS AT CARTAGENA CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000398

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2015
TAGS: OPDC PGOV PREL PTER SNAR ECON CO SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN STATEMENTS AT CARTAGENA CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 18519

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Ricardo F. Zuniga,
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche early February 2 to
Juan Carlos Sanchez, the MFA's Deputy Director General for
Andean Affairs. Sanchez replied that while Spain is very
much in favor of denouncing terrorism whenever possible
(particularly given Spain's own experience with terrorism),
the Spanish government had preferred the text of a proposed
statement that Sanchez said U.S. Embassy Bogota had passed to
Spain's ambassador in Madrid earlier, but later withdrew.
Sanchez did not have a copy of the statement but recalled
that it was not directed exclusively at Venezuela, and
instead called on all countries to follow the rule of law and
adhere to international treaties. The Spanish believe that
statement was preferable to reftel demarche because it
pointed the finger at both Colombia and Venezuela, and thus
would likely be more constructive than a statement directed
only at Venezuela. Poloff emphasized that the statement
suggested in reftel did not specifically mention Venezuela
and was very general in nature. Sanchez said he understood
but believed the statement would be read by all as directed
at Venezuela, which the Spanish do not believe would be the
most productive way to promote cooperation between Colombia
and Venezuela on the question of Colombian guerrilla
organizations.


MANZANARES