Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID2927
2006-11-21 12:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN STILL DISAGREES WITH IMO MSC PROPOSALS

Tags:  ECON EWWT IMO EUN SP 
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VZCZCXRO5030
PP RUEHLA
DE RUEHMD #2927 3251253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211253Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1350
INFO RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2250
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
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
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.





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