Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID3007
2006-12-07 09:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO
how-toVZCZCXRO8764 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHMD #3007 3410935 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 070935Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1421 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 1390 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY 0723 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0667 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0659 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2276 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0275 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 0064 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003007
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV PHUM EUN SP CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
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 003007
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV PHUM EUN SP CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The DCM discussed the EU's reconsideration of the
China Arms Embargo with MFA Director General for Foreign
Policy Rafael Dezcallar on December 5. Dezcallar assured the
DCM that Spain is not seeking to lift the embargo, nor would
it support such an effort. He noted that he had recently
visited Tokyo and heard strong objections from Japanese
officials to any thought of lifting the embargo. Dezcallar
expressed his personal opinion that the embargo would be
unsustainable in the long term. He said that today's China
is not the same as the China of Tiananmen Square and has
changed for the better. Spain views China as a conservative
power that has not taken a destabilizing or threatening
posture in world affairs. Dezcallar said that Spain has been
following with interest China's growth into a major economic
power, and he speculated that future negotiations on the arms
embargo would likely be tied to concessions on transparency
on arms procurement, cooperation on non-proliferation
matters, and reforms in governance and human rights.
Dezcallar reiterated that Spain's official position is to
support the embargo.
2. (SBU) Separately, MFA Subdirector General for the
European Union Carlos Fernandez-Arias told POLOFF on December
5 that Spain would support language in the GAERC conclusions
to the effect that the European Union would commit to study
and consider alterations to the embargo at such time when the
political and human rights situation in China has improved.
He said the conclusions should remain general and not cite
specific concerns because it ought not be seen as a list of
conditions for lifting the embargo. Fernandez-Arias added
that Spain would not support any change in European posture
that failed to take into account the legitimate security
concerns of China's neighbors, and he acknowledged that the
United States considers itself a neighbor in the security
context.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
Llorens
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV PHUM EUN SP CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO SPAIN ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO
REF: STATE 194456
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) The DCM discussed the EU's reconsideration of the
China Arms Embargo with MFA Director General for Foreign
Policy Rafael Dezcallar on December 5. Dezcallar assured the
DCM that Spain is not seeking to lift the embargo, nor would
it support such an effort. He noted that he had recently
visited Tokyo and heard strong objections from Japanese
officials to any thought of lifting the embargo. Dezcallar
expressed his personal opinion that the embargo would be
unsustainable in the long term. He said that today's China
is not the same as the China of Tiananmen Square and has
changed for the better. Spain views China as a conservative
power that has not taken a destabilizing or threatening
posture in world affairs. Dezcallar said that Spain has been
following with interest China's growth into a major economic
power, and he speculated that future negotiations on the arms
embargo would likely be tied to concessions on transparency
on arms procurement, cooperation on non-proliferation
matters, and reforms in governance and human rights.
Dezcallar reiterated that Spain's official position is to
support the embargo.
2. (SBU) Separately, MFA Subdirector General for the
European Union Carlos Fernandez-Arias told POLOFF on December
5 that Spain would support language in the GAERC conclusions
to the effect that the European Union would commit to study
and consider alterations to the embargo at such time when the
political and human rights situation in China has improved.
He said the conclusions should remain general and not cite
specific concerns because it ought not be seen as a list of
conditions for lifting the embargo. Fernandez-Arias added
that Spain would not support any change in European posture
that failed to take into account the legitimate security
concerns of China's neighbors, and he acknowledged that the
United States considers itself a neighbor in the security
context.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
Llorens