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