Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID2955
2006-11-27 16:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH KOSOVO TIMEFRAME
how-toVZCZCXRO9310 PP RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #2955 3311641 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271641Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1373 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0032 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0013 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0127 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0166 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2257 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1447 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0271 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0109 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0033
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002955
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH KOSOVO TIMEFRAME
REF: STATE 187642
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002955
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH KOSOVO TIMEFRAME
REF: STATE 187642
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) DCM met with Alberto Navarro, Spanish Secretary of
State for the European Union, on November 24 to discuss
Spain's position on the timing of the Kosovo status process.
DCM reviewed reftel demarche with Navarro point by point and
stressed the U.S. position of moving quickly in Kosovo to
avoid potentially increasing instability. Navarro replied
that Spain has a position that is distinct from the U.S.
view, and he noted that Spain is not a member of the Kosovo
Contact Group. He said that Spain's top priority in the
Balkans is to support Serbian democracy and to avoid the
radicalization of Serbian politics. He noted that Serbian
radicals are polling strongly and stated that it is important
for the EU to send a positive signal to Serbia in advance of
the elections. He told DCM that, while the EU had suspended
negotiations with Serbia over ICTY non-compliance, Spain and
others would seek to restart negotiations in order to send an
encouraging signal to pro-EU Serbians.
2. (C) Navarro sought to draw a distinction between
Montenegro and Kosovo. He noted that Montenegro had a legal
and constitutional option to exercise independence from
Serbia, whereas Kosovo did not. He further pointed to the
Serbian Constitution's inclusion of Kosovo as a territorially
integral part of Serbia. Spain does not want to see a
unilateral settlement of the Kosovo issue, but wants more
time to work for a multilateral negotiated settlement. He
added that Spain supports the principle of "multi-ethnicity"
and is against the creation of ethnicity-based nations.
Navarro then told DCM that Spain and China would oppose the
Ahtisaari plan, and he cautioned that Kosovo would be used as
a basis for continued problems in Transnistria and other
territorial disputes. He stated Spain's opposition to UNSE
Ahtisaari's proposed timing for final settlement, although he
recognized that France's support for the plan was
significant. He concluded by telling the DCM that Spain will
continue following developments in the Balkans closely as
they assume the OSCE presidency in January.
3. (C) COMMENT: Spain's own regional challenges, most
importantly the struggle for increased autonomy in Catalonia
and the Basque region, have colored GOS views on whether
Europe should endorse regional independence plans in
situations that do not have specific legal authority (hence
the reference to the distinctions in the Montenegran and
Serbian constitutions). As Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos noted last year to then-Deputy Secretary Zoellick,
the GOS does not want new European precedents that could be
used internally by those who would challenge Spain's own
territorial integrity. In fact, some Basques and Catalans
have cited Kosovo and Montenegro as relevant to Spain's
national minority issues. END COMMENT.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN DOES NOT AGREE WITH KOSOVO TIMEFRAME
REF: STATE 187642
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) DCM met with Alberto Navarro, Spanish Secretary of
State for the European Union, on November 24 to discuss
Spain's position on the timing of the Kosovo status process.
DCM reviewed reftel demarche with Navarro point by point and
stressed the U.S. position of moving quickly in Kosovo to
avoid potentially increasing instability. Navarro replied
that Spain has a position that is distinct from the U.S.
view, and he noted that Spain is not a member of the Kosovo
Contact Group. He said that Spain's top priority in the
Balkans is to support Serbian democracy and to avoid the
radicalization of Serbian politics. He noted that Serbian
radicals are polling strongly and stated that it is important
for the EU to send a positive signal to Serbia in advance of
the elections. He told DCM that, while the EU had suspended
negotiations with Serbia over ICTY non-compliance, Spain and
others would seek to restart negotiations in order to send an
encouraging signal to pro-EU Serbians.
2. (C) Navarro sought to draw a distinction between
Montenegro and Kosovo. He noted that Montenegro had a legal
and constitutional option to exercise independence from
Serbia, whereas Kosovo did not. He further pointed to the
Serbian Constitution's inclusion of Kosovo as a territorially
integral part of Serbia. Spain does not want to see a
unilateral settlement of the Kosovo issue, but wants more
time to work for a multilateral negotiated settlement. He
added that Spain supports the principle of "multi-ethnicity"
and is against the creation of ethnicity-based nations.
Navarro then told DCM that Spain and China would oppose the
Ahtisaari plan, and he cautioned that Kosovo would be used as
a basis for continued problems in Transnistria and other
territorial disputes. He stated Spain's opposition to UNSE
Ahtisaari's proposed timing for final settlement, although he
recognized that France's support for the plan was
significant. He concluded by telling the DCM that Spain will
continue following developments in the Balkans closely as
they assume the OSCE presidency in January.
3. (C) COMMENT: Spain's own regional challenges, most
importantly the struggle for increased autonomy in Catalonia
and the Basque region, have colored GOS views on whether
Europe should endorse regional independence plans in
situations that do not have specific legal authority (hence
the reference to the distinctions in the Montenegran and
Serbian constitutions). As Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos noted last year to then-Deputy Secretary Zoellick,
the GOS does not want new European precedents that could be
used internally by those who would challenge Spain's own
territorial integrity. In fact, some Basques and Catalans
have cited Kosovo and Montenegro as relevant to Spain's
national minority issues. END COMMENT.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
AGUIRRE