Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06MADRID2259 | 2006-09-11 10:55:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid |
VZCZCXRO6646 RR RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #2259/01 2541055 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111055Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0700 INFO RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2052 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0106 |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002259 |
1. (U) Please see action request paragraph 6. 2. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff discussed reftel demarche, Spain's plans for the Chairmanship, and the Personal Representatives on Tolerance with Jose Lopez Jorrin, MFA Coordinator for the Spanish Chairmanship of OSCE, on September 7. Lopez Jorrin said that Spain supports Kazakhstan's candidacy for the Chairmanship because withdrawing the possibility of Chairmanship could slow or change the course of Kazahkstan's transition to democracy. He said that the GOS believes that Kazakhstan has a reasonable record on human rights as it struggles through a difficult transition. He argued that the OSCE Chairmanship would re-focus Kazakhstan's attention on the west. He said that it is time for non-EU countries to hold the Chairmanship. Lopez Jorrin said that, during its Chairmanship, Spain will emphasize the consensus and dialogue aspects of the OSCE. Spain will try to prevent the organization from bogging down over troublesome issues, and wants to build on the Belgian presidency rather than be revolutionary. Spain supports maintaining the three Personal Representatives on Tolerance. Lopez Jorrin said that MFA is considering a series of visits to key capitals, including Washington, as it prepares for the Chairmanship. END SUMMARY. -- SPANISH CHAIRMANSHIP -- 3. (C) Lopez Jorrin resisted the idea that Spain could or would impose priorities as Chairman on such a consensus-driven organization. He acknowledged, nonetheless, that Spain looks forward to focusing on several issues. Two key areas will be finishing whatever remains of the OSCE reform agenda after Brussels and revising the election monitors reporting process so that reports are fairly and usefully presented. In the politico-military dimension, Spain will focus on counter-terrorism, civil-military efforts in conflict zones, and compliance with the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty. In the econ/environment dimension, Spain will focus on land degradation, soil conservation, and water management. Lopez Jorrin said that Spain's project in this area will focus on Central Asia, with the idea of keeping those OSCE members connected to the organization and to Europe. Finally, in the human dimension, Spain wants the OSCE to focus on managing diversity in pluralistic societies. He said that this theme includes immigration, a major issue for Spain right now, but said that it will be presented in a broad way that includes gender, sexual preference, and other diversity issues. -- KAZAKHSTAN'S CHAIRMANSHIP -- 4. (C) Lopez Jorrin said that Spain supports Kazakhstan's candidacy and is surprised by the US position. He said that Spain doesn't see the human rights situation there as being so bad, considering that it is a country in transition that is making progress. Lopez Jorrin said that Spain sees the glass as half full, while apparently the US sees it as half empty. Lopez Jorrin said that the key factors in transitions to democracy are speed and direction. He said that both are good, and worried that a rejection by the OSCE right now could change the direction altogether. Lopez Jorrin said that Kazakhstan has all sorts of neighbors to choose from - China, Russia, SW Asia - and that it is important to keep it connected to Europe. He also said that Kazakhstan's neighbors would be watching carefully what happened with Kazakhstan's Chairmanship. Lopez Jorrin pointed out that any concerns that the US has now about Kazakhstan's human rights situation are not likely to be resolved in the next few years, so it doesn't really matter if Kazakhstan is Chairman in 2009, 2011, or 2014. Finally, he said that the OSCE will not survive if only EU countries are allowed to become Chairmen. He said that it is time to show that all members are full members. Lopez Jorrin said that he was amused by the demarche's call for Spain to act with discretion, since the subject of the demarche is big news in Kazakhstan. -- PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES ON TOLERANCE -- 5. (C) Lopez Jorrin said that Spain's national position - not its "chairmanship position" - on the three Personal Representatives on Tolerance is to support keeping them. He said that they still have plenty of work to do and could be a help to Spain in its Chairmanship. Lopez Jorrin said that he is aware that the Representatives face budget and bureaucratic support issues, and that he would be interested in exploring those issues during Spain's chairmanship. Finally, he said that he doesn't know who opposes the Representatives and hasn't heard the arguments in favor of MADRID 00002259 002 OF 002 getting rid of them. He noted that the Turkish Representative would be in Madrid for a few days at the end of September. 6. (C) Action request: Lopez Jorrin asked for clarification from Washington on whether Ambassador Finley's recent comments on the Kazakhstan question indicate a change in policy. He said that Spain understood recent comments to indicate that while the US won't support Kazakhstan "this year", there might be room for further discussion next year. Nonetheless, he said that it would be unusual to postpone the election beyond December and probably not the best solution. AGUIRRE |