SPAIN/OSCE: INTRODUCING PHILIP REMLER AS CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002020

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: OSCE PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/OSCE: INTRODUCING PHILIP REMLER AS CANDIDATE
FOR HEAD OF OSCE MISSION TO MOLDOVA


Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In an October 22 meeting at the Spanish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs with MFA Director General for Europe and
North AMERICA Jose Maria "Pepe" Pons (who is the focal point
for OSCE issues during Spain's chairmanship),EUR DAS David
Kramer introduced Philip Remler as the U.S. candidate to head
the OSCE Mission to Moldova when the incumbent steps down on
November 16. Kramer laid out Remler's extensive professional
experience in the former Soviet Union and said that he had
exactly the right set of diplomatic skills for this important
position. Remler discussed his experience in peace
negotiations in the region, having participated in the peace
processes for Nagorno-Karabakh, Chechnya, Abkhazia, South
Ossetia and Transnistria. DAS Kramer expressed our hope that
this position continue to be held by an American, and
mentioned that the Moldovans themselves have voiced their
support for a U.S. candidate. Remler said that he had spent
much time in Moscow and knew most if not all of the Russian
officials currently working the frozen conflicts. Remler
said that if he were selected, he would work to engage with
the Russians and convince them that the alternative to a
frozen conflict is not, as they see it, a "hot war," but
rather a "resolved conflict." DAS Kramer told Pons that it
is important that the new head be in place in time to attend
the November 29-30 OSCE Ministerial in Madrid. Kramer also
noted that the deputy head of mission was also due to step
down around the same time and wondered if there would be any
way for that individual to extend until the end of the year.


2. (C) Pons responded by thanking Kramer and Remler for
making the effort to come to Madrid to make the introduction
in person, and noted that the job vacancy had just been
announced on October 19. While not sure of the timeframe for
nominating and vetting candidates, he believed it would take
2-3 weeks. He said that Spain, in its position of OSCE CiO,
must remain neutral during this process, but that he
appreciated the strength of Remler's resume. He mentioned
that Foreign Minister Moratinos would also remain
noncommittal in his public statements during the selection
process. Pons said that for Spain's OSCE chairmanship, it
was vital that the new head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova be
seen as representing all parties to the conflict and working
in the best interests of the OSCE. Pons agreed on the need
to have the new Moldova Mission head in place in time for the
Ministerial but then added that, as the Spanish term in
office is coming to an end, the new official would be dealing
mostly with the incoming Finnish CiO. He also added that
Spain would see what it could do to extend the deputy head of
mission's term in office until the end of this year. Pons
ended by saying that his deputy would be presenting at the
October 23 meeting in Odessa a letter calling for another
meeting of the 5 plus 2 on November 12.

//COMMENT//


3. (C) In a pull aside after the meeting, Pons told DAS
Kramer that the Spanish government looked forward to working
with Remler. Pons' statements to Kramer on the selection
process mirror what he told the DCM on October 18, namely
that Spain would need to go out of its way to stick to form
and not appear to favor one candidate over another. However,
as Pons also said that Remler's candidacy was a strong one,
we are optimistic about the result. On October 23,
Ambassador Aguirre sent to Foreign Minister Moratinos a hard
copy of the letter from U/S Burns and the DCM faxed a copy to
Pons.


4. (U) DAS Kramer cleared this cable.
AGUIRRE