SPANISH POLDIR ON AFGHANISTAN, KOSOVO, MEPP, LATIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000174 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAN FRIED WHA FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY TOM SHANNON E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017 TAGS: PREL SP AF VZ YI SUBJECT: SPANISH POLDIR ON AFGHANISTAN, KOSOVO, MEPP, LATIN AMERICA REF: A. STATE 7434 ¶B. STATE 5652 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Apparently buoyed by recent contacts with top US diplomats and the prospect of a visit by the Secretary, a very agreeable MFA Political Director Rafael SIPDIS Dezcallar told DCM on February 1 that Spain strongly supports the Comprehensive Approach in Afghanistan and is implementing just such an approach in Badghis province. He acknowledged that President Zapatero's announcement of no additional troops for Afghanistan had surprised him, but said that the GOS would revisit the decision if circumstances change. Dezcallar said that the GOS is concerned by the proposed Shell/Repsol deal with Iran and has already had frank discussions with Repsol of the potential consequences if the investment goes forward (septel). ¶2. (C) On Kosovo, Dezcallar assured DCM that, as FM Moratinos recently told the Secretary, Spain would support the EU presidency position but encouraged the US to take Spain's concerns about the Ahtisaari plan seriously. In the Middle East, Dezcallar said that Spain had achieved its objective by getting the US re-focused on MEPP and that Spain is now standing by ready to be supportive as the US leads the process. Finally, he admitted that Zapatero had unfairly characterized the US record in Latin America in recent public statements. Dezcallar said that Spain is increasingly concerned by events in Venezuela and is open to suggestions on the appropriate action to take (septel). END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) AFGHANISTAN: Dezcallar said that he had just spoken with Assistant Secretary Fried at the Berlin meeting of the Afghanistan Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board. He said that he had told A/S Fried that the GOS was considering the possibility of sending more troops to Afghanistan, and then was surprised soon after to hear Zapatero's announcement that Spain won't send more troops. Dezcallar said that if circumstances change, the GOS would reconsider. He said that there was great consensus at the JCMB on the Comprehensive Approach that ties together security and political efforts, and noted that Spain uses exactly that approach with its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Badghis province. He said that the PRT was making good progress with road building, water and sewer projects, and the hospital. Dezcallar said that Spain has been pushing the EU police training mission, which is doubly important because it would both train security forces and commit the EU to the Afghanistan mission. When DCM encouraged Spain to do more on the public diplomacy front, Dezcallar agreed that the GOS could do more to explain to the public the various facets of the Comprehensive Approach and that the Afghan people support the mission. ¶4. (C) KOSOVO: DCM told Dezcallar that Kosovars have been waiting a long time to have their situation resolved and that now is the time for everyone to stick together to get this done. He said that a united Europe is critical to moving the Ahtisaari plan forward, and allies must ensure that Russia doesn't divide them to its own ends. Dezcallar said that Spain would support the EU presidency position. He added, though, that Spanish concerns should be taken seriously. Dezcallar said that Spanish hesitation is not about the possible precedent for its own regions but rather the fact that the Ahtisaari plan breaks the norms established by the Helsinki accords and could be a precedent for unilateral action by Russia in other areas. ¶5. (C) MEPP: The DCM appreciated Spain's positive efforts in support of the Palestinian authorities and Moratinos' recent briefing of Secretary Rice on the results of the visit of Abu Mazen to Madrid. Dezcallar said that Spain wanted to work closely with the US on achieving a durable agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. He stressed that the GOS's objective in releasing its peace plan during the Zapatero-Chirac meeting was to reinvigorate the MEPP and support the Quartet. He said that Spain had gotten what it wanted because the US was now re-engaged. He said that Moratinos could continue to assist, always in support of US leadership on the issue. ¶6. (C) LATIN AMERICA: DCM expressed appreciation for Zapatero's public comments on the importance of democracy in Cuba and suggested that the sentiment could be transformed into an EU declaration. He also noted that Zapatero had mischaracterized the US's involvement in Latin America as one only stressing trade and ignoring democracy and political MADRID 00000174 002 OF 002 reform. The DCM said that the US had devoted over three decades in single minded support for democracy in Latin America and had spent billions of dollars of economic assistance on strengthening democratic institutions and creating a more honest and independent judiciary. Dezcallar admitted that Zapatero's comments had reflected inaccurate stereotypes. He recognized that Spain very much shares Assistant Secretary Shannon's vision for Latin America and noted the importance of continued cooperation in the region. Dezcallar said that the GOS is increasingly worried about Chavez's anti-democratic actions and is open to US suggestions about the best actions to take. The DCM suggested that high level consultations be held here or in Washington to review the situation and work on common initiatives. (septel) Aguirre