SPAIN ON REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR

UNCLAS MADRID 002343 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE AND ISN/NESS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ETTC MNUC PARM PREL TRGY KNNP IN SP SUBJECT: SPAIN ON REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION INITIATIVE AT OCTOBER 2006 NSG MEETING REF: SECSTATE 140484 (SBU) ESTHOFF made reftel points August 28 to newly-arrived MFA Disarmament Affairs Deputy Director General Ignacio Sanchez, requesting that Spain make a statement in support when the subject of civil nuclear cooperation with India is discussed at the October 11-12 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Consultative Group (GC) meeting in Vienna. Sanchez told ESTHOFF September 14 that Spain continues to believe that the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative is a net plus for the international nonproliferation regime and would so state at the NSG/GC. Sanchez said that Spain had been pushing for a common EU position (and statement) in favor of the initiative, but this was blocked due to opposition from several member states including Sweden. Sweden and others continue to insist that India first sign the NPT, while Spain and others argue that embracing India in the NSG and elsewhere would eventually lead to India joining the NPT. Sanchez said that India's solid nonproliferation credentials (as compared to Pakistan, for example) were a key factor in Spain's decision to support the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. LLORENS