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