SPAIN STILL DISAGREES WITH IMO MSC PROPOSALS

UNCLAS MADRID 002927 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE - GCLEMENTS AND ACERVETTI EB/CIP - DMAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EWWT IMO EUN SP SUBJECT: SPAIN STILL DISAGREES WITH IMO MSC PROPOSALS REF: STATE 183434 1.(U) EconOff delivered reftel talking points on November 13 to Paula Sancho Torrego, head of Spain's Office of Maritime Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EconOff also delivered reftel points on November 17 to Luis Miguel Guerez Roig, Subdirector General for Maritime Regulations and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Public Works. Both parties informed EconOff that the GOS position remains unchanged. ¶2. (U) Roig pointed out that "a number of the proposals contained in US document MSC 82/3/2 regarding amendments to Chapter IV of the SOLAS Convention have warranted favorable consideration by Spain, as shown in document MSC 82/3725." However, the GOS still considers the adoption of the US amendments to be premature in the absence of an IMO technical evaluation on the impact on search and rescue, as well as on the equipping of ships. ¶3. (U) The GOS remains in favor of maintaining the current distribution of functions between the IMO and the IMSO regarding the GMDSS. Spain proposes that this issue can be resolved by revising Resolution A.888(21) on the criteria applicable to mobile satellite communications systems for the GMDSS. The GOS is against giving the IMO supervisory functions over the GMDSS, and is adamant that the IMO has already ceded this function to the IMSO. The GOS firmly believes that the IMSO has adopted the necessary procedures to perform a supervisory function. ¶4. (SBU) Likewise, Spain still opposes the US proposal for the IMO to take on the coordinator role of the LRIT, and believes that the IMSO should play this role. However, Spain may support the US offer to establish an interim data exchange facility for LRIT, as long as the necessary IMO procedures and agreements are established. The GOS asks, however, that the USG consider with greater interest its own proposal, coordinated with other EU countries, to establish an EU regional center. Spain agrees that this regional center would follow the same procedures and agreements established if the US interim data exchange facility is approved. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: As noted in reftel, a Spaniard will head the IMSO next spring. The GOS' actions may thus have the explicit intent to delay action on the US amendment proposals in order to increase the IMSO's role. Simply put, the GOS seems intractable in its position. END COMMENT. AGUIRRE