SPANISH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF NOVEMBER 19 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002125 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2017 TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF NOVEMBER 19 GAERC REF: STATE 156474 Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel non-paper to MFA Deputy DG for European Common Security Carlos Fernandez-Arias on November 15. Fernandez-Arias emphasized that Spain was mainly in agreement with the U.S., but he highlighted subtle differences on several topics. //KOSOVO// ¶2. (C) Fernandez-Arias said the chances for agreement by December 10 were much less than slim. Spain agrees that EU planning should continue and indeed is continuing for a post-independence Kosovo. However, Spain does not believe that UNSCR 1244 would permit the deployment of a European force, and would like a UNSCR to provide more robust authorization. Spain's priority is still to maintain EU unity and to avoid a situation that would create neighboring nations that are permanent blood enemies, as this could preclude one or both from entering the EU. //BOSNIA// ¶3. (C) Spain is in complete agreement and is also in favor of freezing work toward an EU association agreement if Serbia fails to comply with Dayton. Reform of the Bosnian police, which Fernandez-Arias said was too ethnically divided, is also a Spanish concern. //IRAN// ¶4. (C) Spain continues to hope for the best, a mutually agreed resolution of the enrichment situation, but is prepared to support new Security Council sanctions along with other EU states. If China were to prove uncooperative in the UNSC, the EU is prepared to discuss further sanctions of its own, and Spain would support that. //IRAQ// ¶5. (C) Fernandez-Arias underscored that Spain has fulfilled its donor commitments so far and is very much committed to improving conditions in Iraq, as is the rest of the EU. He said that the EU is also concerned about "political visibility" and a greater EU presence in Iraq. He said that while the EU has contributed a large amount of money to Iraq, EU members do not get the sense that Iraqis appreciate the provenance of these efforts, given the overwhelming U.S. presence. Fernandez-Arias said the EU would like to expand their presence in order to get the message out in Iraq that the EU is committed and is doing things to improve life in Iraq. He added that the Iraqi FM would be at the GAERC, and this would be a part of the discussion. //MEPP// ¶6. (C) Fernandez-Arias said there probably would not be a lengthy discussion of this, since the EU is in a holding pattern in advance of the Annapolis conference. The language supporting Annapolis is already in the meeting conclusions, and there is not much to add at present. The GAERC has prepared their "Action Plan" - essentially a checklist of financial commitments and decisions that will need to be revisited in the aftermath of Annapolis. //LEBANON-SYRIA// ¶7. (C) According to Fernandez-Arias, Spain, Italy and France have been and are continuing to exert pressure on Syria to "play fair" in advance of the Lebanese elections, and they have received what they believe are genuine commitments from the SARG to respect the elections, comply with UNSCR 1701 and establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon. With respect to the border mission, the first preparatory mission is to depart for both Beirut and Damascus on November 18, and Fernandez-Arias objected to the non-paper's implication that the mission would be oriented toward Damascus. //BURMA AND PAKISTAN// ¶8. (C) Spain will adhere to the EU position on both Burma and Pakistan. Fernandez-Arias noted his personal view that while Musharraf is in a precarious position, it is important and correct that the international community hold him to his commitments to permit greater movement toward democracy in Pakistan. //MUGABE// MADRID 00002125 002 OF 002 ¶9. (C) Fernandez-Arias said Spain hopes Mugabe will not attend because it will force the summit to deal more with him than with the myriad other important issues, problems and programs that concern the EU in Africa. He said that Moratinos had expressed Spain's opposition to his attendance to the Ghanaian FM in Madrid November 15. The EU will certainly discuss Zimbabwe at length should Mugabe attend, he said. LLORENS