SPAIN: MFA WILL LOOK AT FOREIGN FIGHTERS DEMARCHE

S E C R E T MADRID 001361 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/ERA FOR SHAWN GRAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER SY IZ SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: MFA WILL LOOK AT FOREIGN FIGHTERS DEMARCHE TO SARG REF: A. STATE 92339 ¶B. MADRID 1328 ¶C. MADRID 1326 ¶D. EUR/ERA E-MAIL JULY 10 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request. Please see para. 4. ¶2. (S) Poloff met with Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for Terrorism Miguel Garcia-Herraiz on July 11 to share talking points on a potential Spanish demarche to Arab governments on stemming the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq (Ref. A). Refs B and C detail Embassy high-level engagement on this issue, securing agreement in principal from Spanish National Security advisor Carles Casajuana and MFA Political Director Rafael Dezcallar. Garcia-Herraiz said that the U.S. appraisal of the situation appeared to correspond with EU analysis, and that encouraging the SARG to do more was a good idea. He noted that some of the concrete measures suggested by USG (Ref. D) would represent a pretty tall order for the SARG, but he agreed with the general thrust. He pointed out that EU governments are keenly aware that foreign fighters are leaving Europe for Iraq as well, and he referenced the recent arrest of four individuals in Catalonia accused of conducting terrorist recruitment. Nevertheless, he said, the Islamists were still getting through to Iraq. He added that the Spanish are seeing an increasing flow into the Maghreb as opposed to or in addition to Iraq. ¶3. (S) Garcia-Herraiz said that Foreign Minister Moratinos "will be visiting the region soon, which might be a good opportunity." He asked whether Embassy could provide information on which if any Arab governments had individually agreed to approach the SARG. He also asked whether USG could provide more detail about which specific Arab nationalities were most commonly transiting Syria, noting that for Kuwaitis, Saudis, and Jordanians it seemed unnecessary. Garcia-Herraiz undertook to provide a response to the Embassy within coming days, but he asked for clarification on the two points before Spain goes forward to the SARG. ¶4. (S) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department,s guidance on potential involvement of FM Moratinos directly with Damascus. We do not want to discourage GOS support for our efforts to work with regional governments to stem the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq, but we are also mindful of the need to avoid allowing Moratinos - who perceives himself as having a special role in the Middle East - to portray himself as an intermediary between the U.S. and the SARG. Request response soonest since Moratinos, regional travel appears to be imminent. END ACTION REQUEST. -------------- Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/ -------------- AGUIRRE