Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID2152
2006-08-29 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN WANTS TO LEAD BRIGADE IN LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXRO6096 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHMD #2152 2411359 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 291359Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0606 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0229 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0198 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2032
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002152
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP LE
SUBJECT: SPAIN WANTS TO LEAD BRIGADE IN LEBANON
REF: A. 2066 AND PRIOR
B. 2138
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002152
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP LE
SUBJECT: SPAIN WANTS TO LEAD BRIGADE IN LEBANON
REF: A. 2066 AND PRIOR
B. 2138
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1.(U) As described in ref A, the GOS continues planning to
send an infantry battalion of Spanish troops with armored
vehicles and support units (totaling around 1200 troops) to
support UNIFIL's mission in Lebanon. The Council of
Ministers is scheduled to consider the deployment on
September 1, with Congressional debate - and likely
authorization - coming on September 7. In addition, Foreign
Minister Moratinos announced that it is the GOS's intention
that Spain lead a multi-national brigade in Lebanon. On the
humanitarian side, Spain has contributed four million euros,
and Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI)
sources have told emboffs that Moratinos will announce
another donation at the Stockholm conference (ref B).
2. (C/NF) Spanish MOD Policy Director General Benito Raggio
told PolCouns on August 29 that UNSYG Kofi Annan has said
that it is 95% certain that Spain will lead a brigade.
Raggio said that Spanish Chief of Defense General Sanz will
host a force generation conference in Madrid on September 1
to solicit EU contributions to the multi-national brigade.
Spain is particularly looking to Portugal, Poland, and
Finland, among others. It will probably reach out to non-EU
countries later, perhaps including Morocco, with which Spain
successfully teamed in its contribution to the UN mission in
Haiti. He said Spain's own contribution to the multinational
brigade would total about 1200 troops and that MOD is
contemplating sending an advance party to Lebanon as early as
Wednesday, August 30 to begin planning for the brigade
deployment. Raggio also noted that Moratinos said in
Brussels last week that Spain is interested in leading UNIFIL
II after the French and Italian leadership terms end. Raggio
underscored that Spain is taking a significant role in
Lebanon, which it sees as a responsibility under the
BMENA/Alliance of Civilizations effort.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR SP LE
SUBJECT: SPAIN WANTS TO LEAD BRIGADE IN LEBANON
REF: A. 2066 AND PRIOR
B. 2138
Classified By: A/DCM Kathy Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).
1.(U) As described in ref A, the GOS continues planning to
send an infantry battalion of Spanish troops with armored
vehicles and support units (totaling around 1200 troops) to
support UNIFIL's mission in Lebanon. The Council of
Ministers is scheduled to consider the deployment on
September 1, with Congressional debate - and likely
authorization - coming on September 7. In addition, Foreign
Minister Moratinos announced that it is the GOS's intention
that Spain lead a multi-national brigade in Lebanon. On the
humanitarian side, Spain has contributed four million euros,
and Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI)
sources have told emboffs that Moratinos will announce
another donation at the Stockholm conference (ref B).
2. (C/NF) Spanish MOD Policy Director General Benito Raggio
told PolCouns on August 29 that UNSYG Kofi Annan has said
that it is 95% certain that Spain will lead a brigade.
Raggio said that Spanish Chief of Defense General Sanz will
host a force generation conference in Madrid on September 1
to solicit EU contributions to the multi-national brigade.
Spain is particularly looking to Portugal, Poland, and
Finland, among others. It will probably reach out to non-EU
countries later, perhaps including Morocco, with which Spain
successfully teamed in its contribution to the UN mission in
Haiti. He said Spain's own contribution to the multinational
brigade would total about 1200 troops and that MOD is
contemplating sending an advance party to Lebanon as early as
Wednesday, August 30 to begin planning for the brigade
deployment. Raggio also noted that Moratinos said in
Brussels last week that Spain is interested in leading UNIFIL
II after the French and Italian leadership terms end. Raggio
underscored that Spain is taking a significant role in
Lebanon, which it sees as a responsibility under the
BMENA/Alliance of Civilizations effort.
AGUIRRE