SPAIN'S DEPUTY FM ON IRAQ HOSPITAL DONATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001832

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016
TAGS: PREL SP VZ IZ BO
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S DEPUTY FM ON IRAQ HOSPITAL DONATION,
VENEZUELA, ISRAEL, BOLIVIA

Classified By: Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY. Spain's Deputy Foreign Minister Leon
confirmed to Ambassador Aguirre on July 18 that Spain will
donate USD 22 million to the Basrah Children's Hospital and
should have no problem delivering the funds by September 1.
Leon reiterated that Spain will vote for Guatemala rather
than Venezuela for the UNSC seat. He and the Ambassador
briefly discussed the sale of Spanish-made defense items to
Venezuela (septel). Leon noted that the GOS has publicly
denounced Hizbullah's irresponsible provocation of Israel,
but also called on Israel to avoid attacks against civilians
and infrastructure. Leon told the Ambassador that he has
offered Bolivian ex-President Rodriguez the opportunity to
come to Spain if he needs a place to go. END SUMMARY.

-- BASRAH CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL --


2. (C/NF) In a July 18 meeting, the Ambassador thanked Deputy
Foreign Minister Bernadino Leon for MFA's quick follow-up on
Foreign Minister Moratinos' pledge to Secretary Rice to
contribute to humanitarian projects in Iraq. The Ambassador
noted that the First Lady and Secretary Rice have taken a
particular interest in the Basrah Children's Hospital
project. Leon said that Spain is pleased to be able to
contribute to the hospital, particularly considering the
child survival problems in the region. He said that he would
talk to the Spanish cooperation agency AECI and didn't
foresee any problem delivering Spain's USD 22 million
donation by September 1. Leon asked the Ambassador to alert
MFA if more funds were to be needed for the project.

-- ISRAEL/LEBANON --


3. (C/NF) The Ambassador thanked Leon for the GOS's efforts
to evacuate several Amcits from Lebanon along with Spanish
evacuees and noted the Secretary's comments on the need to
protect innocent civilians as Israel defends itself. He also
told Leon that it was hard for the USG to understand
President Zapatero's comments linking the current
Lebanon/Israel situation with the war in Iraq. Leon said
that Zapatero was speaking for internal political consumption
only in order to address the opposition Popular Party's
comments on the situation, and was not making a bilateral
commentary directed at the US. Leon pointed out that he and
the rest of the Zapatero government have been repeatedly
outspoken in condemning Hizbollah's irresponsible provocation
of Israel. However, Leon also said that Israel has been
disproportionate in its response, noting both the poor optics
and the bad strategy of attacking airports and infrastructure
rather than focusing on Hizbollah targets, which would not
have spurred complaints from the international community.
Leon said that Spain understands that Syria and Iran provoked
Israel, and that the Israeli response would have been
justified, but not at the scale and proportion of the current
operation.

-- VENEZUELA --


4. (C/NF) The Ambassador encouraged Leon to take advantage of
his and Vice President de la Vega's upcoming travel to South
America to encourage votes for Guatemala for the UNSC seat.
Leon said that the Venezuelan ambassador to Spain had
recently lobbied him on the issue, but that Spain remains
committed to voting for Guatemala. He said that Spain always
tells other governments when asked that it will vote for
Guatemala, and explains why Guatemala is a strong candidate.
He shied away from the idea of advocating for Guatemala,
saying that the situation is made worse if countries become
polarized because of outside interference. Leon said that he
does not believe that Venezuela will win the seat, even with
Cuba's assistance. Leon and the Ambassador also touched on
the sale of Spanish-made defense items to Venezuela (septel).

-- BOLIVIA --


5. (C/NF) Leon said that the GOS is well aware of the
Bolivian government's unfair treatment of ex-President
Rodriguez and is in close but discrete contact with
Rodriguez. In response to the Ambassador's suggestion that
Spain offer Rodriguez a refuge at the Club de Madrid (a
Madrid-based think-tank style organization comprised of
ex-Presidents throughout the world),Leon said that he had
already told Rodriguez that Spain is ready to help him if he
needs it. Leon also said that Prince Felipe had made a
public show of support for Rodriguez on his last visit to
Bolivia.
AGUIRRE