SPAIN ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

UNCLAS MADRID 004037 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/WE - GCLEMENTS AND MHALL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EWWT PHSA KTIA SP IMO SUBJECT: SPAIN ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION CANDIDACY REF: SECSTATE 207080 (SBU) EconOff delivered reftel demarche November 16 to Pablo Montesino-Espartero, Subdirector General of Multilateral Economic Relations and of Air, Sea, and Land Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EconOff followed-up on November 21 and was informed by Montesino-Espartero that USG representatives should speak directly with Esteban Pacha, the Transportation Counselor at the Embassy of Spain in London who is coordinating Spanish support for the IMO elections. Paula Sancho Torrego, also in the Subdirectorate General of Multilateral Economic Relations and of Air, Sea, and Land Cooperation, communicated that it was odd for us to ask for support only a few weeks in advance of the elections, when a similar request via diplomatic note for support of Spain's candidacy has gone unanswered for four months. EconOff requested more info on the unanswered diplomatic note but Montesino-Espartero again suggested that our representatives speak directly with Pacha in London. MANZANARES