SPAIN: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS BILATERAL RELATION WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 001336 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS BILATERAL RELATION WITH FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE MADRID 00001336 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On July 2 Ambassador Aguirre met with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to review the progress made in the bilateral relationship since the Ambassador arrived in country two years ago and to look at what each country would like to accomplish together over the next 18 months. The Ambassador and Moratinos agreed that in the entire global political and security arena, we share the same views on probably ninety percent or more of all issues. Moratinos said that he will be traveling to the US this fall in his role as OSCE head and would like to meet briefly with the Secretary. Both agreed that the US and Spain should convene another Latin American Working Group on the margins of the UNGA in September and use that as a springboard to forge continued cooperation on Latin America. The Foreign Minister agreed with the Ambassador that on Cuba there should be "no surprises and full transparency," but said that the Venezuelan ship deal was too far along to stop. Moratinos expressed interest in working more closely with the US on Western Sahara and said that the recent Spanish military deaths in Lebanon would not shake Spain's commitment to its overseas deployments. Finally, Moratinos requested that Spain be invited to any international summit on climate change and also pledged to look into why it was taking so long for US Mission employees in Spain to receive their visas. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador told Foreign Minister Moratinos on July 2 that he arrived in Spain two years ago with a mandate from the President to rebuild bilateral relations. He said that working together with Moratinos and other Spanish officials, we have made great progress in bringing our countries back into close cooperation and returning relations to the status befitting strong allies. The Ambassador and Moratinos agreed that in the entire global political and security arena, we share the same views on probably ninety percent or more of all issues. The Ambassador said the purpose of this meeting was to examine what both countries would like to accomplish together over the next 18 months, acknowledging that each is entering election years (Spain will hold national elections by March 2008) and that this might affect what each side is willing and able to do. Moratinos said that President Zapatero and his team feel confident about their electoral chances, barring some unforeseen change, and therefore are managing their foreign policy with a view towards the next several years, and not just the next several months. Before diving into the substantive agenda, Moratinos told the Ambassador that he had been particularly gratified by the successful US-Spain Council meeting recently held in Salamanca, and especially the presence of A/S Shannon. Moratinos said that he had heard from several of his colleagues who attended the event that it was a great success and the Foreign Minister said that he would very much like to attend next year's meeting in Houston. ¶3. (C) Moratinos then reviewed the "very successful" visit to China he had just completed with a Spanish delegation headed by King Juan Carlos. Although the trip was overshadowed by the six Spanish soldiers killed in a terrorist bombing in Lebanon, Moratinos said he was enthusiastic about the future of Spain-China relations. Moratinos was then interrupted by a telephone call from President Zapatero who relayed the news of that day's bombing in Yemen and the probability that Spanish citizens had been injured and killed. The phone call served to increase the urgency to the time allotted for the meeting as the Ambassador and Moratinos briefly touched on a range of topics. //Proposed GOS visits to the US// ¶4. (C) Moratinos said that, in his current role as OSCE Chairman in Office, he would be visiting the US in September and would appreciate a 15-20 minute meeting with the Secretary, to be held either in New York or Washington. He SIPDIS stressed that the meeting would be focused on issues related to the OSCE. Moratinos told the Ambassador that the dates for the OSCE Ministerial meeting in Madrid had been set for 29-30 November, and he would welcome the Secretary's attendance. The Ambassador replied that the Secretary does not usually attend these meetings. Moratinos said that he MADRID 00001336 002.2 OF 003 realized this, but he wanted to pass along the message that he would be "honored to welcome her back to Madrid." Turning to another potential high-level visit, Moratinos told the Ambassador of Spanish Vice President Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega's interest in visiting the US sometime during the time period between each of our respective elections (March 2008-November 2008). De la Vega would be interested in meeting with Vice President Cheney and other appropriate USG officials. //Latin America// ¶5. (C) The Ambassador suggested that we consider convening another Latin American Working Group (LAWG) this September on the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York to focus on areas in the region where we are in agreement, and Moratinos readily agreed. Moratinos said our joint focus should remain on Latin America and he would like the next LAWG to set the stage for a follow-on meeting in Spain. Moratinos said that Trinidad Jimenez, his Secretary of State for Latin America, had just returned from a trip to Bolivia and Ecuador and does not believe it is too late to prevent those countries from becoming drawn into the orbit of Chavez' Venezuela. Moratinos believes there is room for Spain and the US to work together to ensure that Bolivia and Ecuador remain "neutral countries." ¶6. (C) On Cuba, the Ambassador told Moratinos that the Secretary has been very clear about our position on Cuba and SIPDIS he did not have more to add. He said we must agree to maintain an open dialogue to keep one another informed of what we are doing on Cuba, and to assure that the Castro regime knows that the US and Spain share the goal of a democratic Cuba and are both working towards that goal. Moratinos agreed and said the key was "no surprises and full transparency." The Ambassador then asked Moratinos about the status of the Spanish ship sale to Venezuela and the possibility of finding other customers. Moratinos said the ship deal was too far along to unwind at this stage. He added that the GOS still had a bitter taste in its mouth because of the way the contract for the planes had unraveled and expressed pessimism that anything more could be done on this front. //Lebanon and Afghanistan// ¶7. (C) On behalf of President Bush and Secretary Rice, the Ambassador conveyed condolences to Spain on the deaths of six Spanish soldiers on June 24 and said that we had lowered the Embassy flag in homage to those who died and the bravery of those who continue to serve. Moratinos thanked the Ambassador for these gestures and said that he very much appreciated the personal condolences the Secretary paid to his deputy Bernadino Leon. Moratinos said that Spain had no intention to cut and run in either Lebanon or Afghanistan, and would stay the course. The Ambassador then reminded Moratinos of the importance the US placed on the 52 Spanish military trainers they pledged to send to Afghanistan and inquired whether they would soon be sent. Moratinos demurred and said that decision lay with the Ministry of Defense. //Western Sahara// ¶8. (C) Moratinos told the Ambassador that there existed definite opportunities for improvement in the Maghreb. He said that as the first phase of negotiations wound down on the Western Sahara issue, he believed that Spain's position was closer to that of the US than to that of France. Moratinos expressed frustration and surprise at the evolving Western Sahara policy of French President Sarkozy and did not believe that it would be compatible with Spain's. He said he looked forward to working with the US, Morocco and Algeria in the near future "for the benefit of the Maghreb." //Climate Change// ¶9. (C) Moratinos welcomed President Bush's recent G-8 comments on climate change and call for a summit to discuss this issue. Moratinos said that as Spain is not a G-8 member, they are often left out of some of these discussions. He said Spain would have a significant contribution to bring MADRID 00001336 003.2 OF 003 to the table and hopes that it would be invited to any future gathering on this issue. //Consular Issue// ¶10. (C) The Ambassador closed the meeting by relaying to Moratinos our consternation about the lag time needed for Spain to process the visas of US Mission employees posted to Spain. The Ambassador said it is unacceptable that Spain takes an average of 90 days to process the visas, when we turn around Spanish requests in 72 hours. The Ambassador said that the Embassy had been able to stave off bureaucratic calls for reciprocity, but we could not hold out forever. Moratinos said this was the first he had heard of it, but quickly assured the Ambassador that this was most likely a break down in the system and in no way reflected on the state of bilateral relations. The Ambassador said he would have the DCM send to Moratinos' Chief of Staff Javier Sancho a case list of Embassy officers who have had to wait an inordinate amount of time for visa requests. Moratinos said this was a good idea and pledged to look into the matter. (Note: DCM provided the list to Sancho on July 3. End Note). AGUIRRE