Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID1336
2007-07-06 16:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS BILATERAL RELATION WITH

Tags:  PREL PGOV SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5315
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHMD #1336/01 1871638
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061638Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2953
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 3949
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0245
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1190
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0114
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 1290
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1336
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 6033
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2887
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0211
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 001336 

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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)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 001336

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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

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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

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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