SPAIN ON NATO SENIOR CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001577 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2016 TAGS: NATO MARR PREL SUBJECT: SPAIN ON NATO SENIOR CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN AFGHANISTAN REF: SECSTATE 97529 Classified By: PolOff Ricardo Zuniga for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). (C) Per reftel instructions, poloff discussed the candidacy of Amb. Litt for NATO SCR in Afghanistan with MOD Deputy Director General for International Relations Enrique Perez Ramirez on June 16 and MFA Deputy Director General for International Security Affairs Manuel Acerete on June 19. Acerete said that Spain was aware that the US intended to nominate a candidate for SCR, and that Amb. Litt's qualifications are impressive. He acknowledged the importance of the US visibly displaying its commitment and leadership to Afghanistan, and noted Spain's appreciation for this commitment. Emphasizing that Spain has not made any decision and that, in any case, the choice of the next SCR is a decision that belongs exclusively to the NATO SYG, Acerete said that his opinion is that while Litt is a good candidate, the optics of filling three top jobs (commander, deputy commander, and SCR) from the same country would be poor. He said that he is not aware that Spanish PermRep Benavides has talked to the SYG yet about this issue. MANZANARES