SPAIN: FM MORATINOS ON EQUAL TREATMENT FOR

UNCLAS MADRID 002029 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS G/DRL/IRF FOR JACK CRODDY AND NANCY HEWETT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: FM MORATINOS ON EQUAL TREATMENT FOR MORMONS, JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES REF: A. 10/19 IRF MEMO ¶B. 10/19 U/S DOBRIANSKY-AMB. AGUIRRE TELCONS ¶C. 10/19 U/S DOBRIANSKY LETTER TO AMB. AGUIRRE ¶1. (SBU) Per refs, Ambassador Aguirre discussed GOS action on the official status of certain religions with Foreign Minister Moratinos on October 24. Ambassador Aguirre stressed that it was important to the USG and the U.S. Senate that the GOS provide equal treatment for all religions with "notorio arraigo" status. He said the issue was one of basic religious freedom, and he asked for Moratinos' assurance that the GOS would address the issue. The Ambassador also noted that U/S Dobriansky had called Ambassador Westendorp into the Department to discuss the issue. ¶2. (SBU) Moratinos apologized for being unavailable previously due to his recent trip to Lebanon, and he said he understood and appreciated the importance of the issue to the USG. Moratinos said he had not received a report from Ambassador Westendorp and allowed that he was not very familiar with the details of the issue. He noted that the MOJ has the lead, and he promised to call Justice Minister Bermejo to relay U.S. concerns. Moratinos said he would direct his Special Ambassador for Religious Freedom to follow up with the Justice Ministry and to get an answer for Moratinos. The Ambassador thanked Moratinos and noted the issue might be on the agenda at the early November meeting between Moratinos and Secretary Rice. ¶3. (SBU) In Moratinos' absence, the Ambassador had previously spoken with Deputy FM Bernardino Leon on October ¶22. Leon had relayed much the same message, that the Ministry of Justice has the lead on religious matters but that the MFA would closely follow the development of the issue and keep the USG informed. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: Post will continue to work this issue with the Ministry of Justice and with the MFA, including at an upcoming meeting between the DCM and the Deputy Minister of Justice. END COMMENT. AGUIRRE