SPAIN: FM MORATINOS ON GEORGIA MISSILE INCIDENT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001661 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TAGS) SIPDIS USOSCE FOR KIT TRAUB E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2017 TAGS: PREL SP PGOV OSCE CVIS KNATO SUBJECT: SPAIN: FM MORATINOS ON GEORGIA MISSILE INCIDENT, MIDEAST, SPANISH ELECTIONS REF: SECSTATE 119829 MADRID 00001661 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDUARDO A AGUIRRE JR FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche relating to the August 6 Russian incursion into Georgian airspace to Foreign Minister Moratinos on August 29. Moratinos, who was preparing to leave for Moscow that very afternoon, gave indications of his agreement with U.S. concerns. He told the Ambassador that as Chair-in-Office of the OSCE, he was committing considerable effort to the issue and would discuss it not only in Moscow, but during a follow-on visit to Georgia. He expressed his desire to facilitate a quick and judicious resolution, free of public attention and growing tensions. In related news, Moratinos told the Ambassador that he would express support for the U.S. position on Kosovo during his visit to Russia. Referencing the cooperative relationship that has grown between the U.S. and Spain, Moratinos repeated his request that Spain be invited to attend a USG-sponsored Middle East Peace conference to take place in the fall. He confirmed that Spanish elections would indeed occur in March, 2008, and said that although he had confidence in a favorable outcome, he was not sure whether Zapatero would request that he serve a second term as Foreign Minister. Lastly, Moratinos assured the Ambassador that he would review concerns regarding lengthy delays in Spanish visas for U.S. students. End Summary. -------------- GEORGIA MISSILE INCIDENT -------------- ¶2. (C) In a meeting with Foreign Minister Moratinos August 29, the Ambassador delivered reftel demarche relating to the Russian incursion into Georgian airspace and subsequent anti-radar missile attack. The Foreign Minister expressed his intent to discuss this issue both in Moscow and in a follow-on visit to Georgia the first week of September. He indicated that he was in accordance with U.S. general concerns and agreed that Putin was once again testing the adversarial limits. Moratinos added that during his visit, he hoped to impress upon the Russians the solidarity and intolerance of OSCE members towards illegal incursions into Georgia. ¶3. (C) Moratinos assured the Ambassador that he was dedicating considerable attention to this issue, communicating frequently with his EU colleagues and OSCE partners in his capacity of Chair-in-Office of the OSCE. He lightly noted that not only had his vacation been interrupted by this contentious matter, but he had postponed a planned trip to the Far East in order to go to Russia. The Foreign Minister declared that it was imperative this issue not spiral out of control, and that Georgia and Russia resolve their differences quickly and away from potentially aggravating public attention. ¶4. (C) Lastly, Moratinos took note of the Ambassador's suggestion that the planned October NATO visit to Georgia stay on course. The Foreign Minister seemed like-minded, but did not volunteer a particular position. -------------- KOSOVO, MEPP, NATO -------------- ¶5. (C) In other matters, Moratinos told the Ambassador that the GoS was fully aligned with the U.S. on Kosovar independence, and that during his meetings in Moscow, Moratinos fully planned to state this support. Referencing the growing relationship of cooperation between Spain and the U.S., the Foreign Minister told the Ambassador that he had been made aware of a USG-sponsored Middle East Peace conference to take place in the U.S. in the fall. Moratinos stressed his desire that Spain be invited to this conference given Spain's strong interest and role in the Middle East. He further requested that Spain be provided with a stand-alone invitation as opposed to being subsumed by a general invitation to the EU or G-8, and suggested that an invitation or lack-thereof could have an impact on the bilateral relationship. MADRID 00001661 002.4 OF 002 -------------- NO EARLY ELECTIONS -------------- ¶6. (C) Moratinos confirmed to the Ambassador President Zapatero's commitment to hold elections in March, 2008 and not before. The Ambassador acknowledged that during election time, campaign strategies could become contentious and told Moratinos that the U.S. wished to be excluded from negative electoral discourse. He added that if a verbal attack on the U.S. should occur, the U.S. would be remiss not to consider responding accordingly. Moratinos assured the Ambassador that no such tactic would be employed, and that in fact the incumbent party was looking to highlight the current positive relationship with the U.S. in its campaign strategy. Reinforcing this assertion, the Foreign Minister noted that the Zapatero government was interested in having Secretary Rice come to Spain in November to participate in the OSCE ministerial. Nonetheless, he promised the Ambassador that he would drive this point home to his party. ¶7. (C) The Minister expressed confidence in a favorable outcome for his party and privately confided that although he was comfortable in his current position in the government, he was not certain whether President Zapatero would ask him to stay a second term. Moratinos said that Zapatero would make a trip to Russia later in the fall and would likely travel to some other European capitals as well but would be spending most of his time on domestic issues and focusing on reelection. ¶8. (C) Moratinos mentioned a likely busy travel schedule for himself, and alluded in passing to some vague Middle East trip. (Note: If past history reflects, his trip is likely already in the works). -------------- STUDENT VISAS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador also raised the problem of delays that U.S. students are experiencing in receiving visas to study in Spain. Moratinos expressed appreciation for this notification, and gave assurances that MFA would look into this issue. Moratinos also took note of the Ambassador's offer to share how U.S. student visa processes balanced both security measures and timeliness. AGUIRRE