Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID596
2007-04-02 15:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN ON TAKING GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
how-toVZCZCXRO1958 PP RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #0596 0921516 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021516Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2185 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 5041 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0613 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 1500 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2102 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 0557 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 7251 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1267 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 4848 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 2432 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0124 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 1041 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY 0059 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA PRIORITY 0740 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 1409 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0320 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0299 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 1679 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0874 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 3084 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0026 RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN PRIORITY 0111 RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS PRIORITY 0105 RUEHLE/AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG PRIORITY 1603 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA PRIORITY 0088 RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA PRIORITY 0139 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0233 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2577 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1467 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AMB. CLINT WILLIAMSON
EUR/PGI FOR NERISSA COOK
EUR/WE FOR GARY CLEMENTS AND ANGELA CERVETTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PHUM, PINR, KAWC, XG, SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN ON TAKING GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
REF: A. STATE 36991
B. STATE 37005
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
(C) The DCM requested GOS assistance in resettling
Guantanamo detainees during a meeting with Director General
for North America and Europe Jose Maria PONS Irazazabal on
March 29. Pons told the DCM that he would pass the request
to Secretary of State for Foreign Policy Bernardino Leon.
Speaking without instructions, Pons said that it would be
"nearly impossible" to accept any Guantanamo detainees
because of the political situation in Spain and the risk of
adverse public opinion. Pons added that the GOS appreciated
the U.S. efforts on Guantanamo and would probably be willing
to help lobby other states over which Spain has influence to
accept the individuals. He asked that the USG provide
additional background information on any such individuals
where Spanish assistance might be helpful in obtaining their
resettlement in a third country. He reiterated that Spain
would likely be unable to accept any detainees but viewed the
initiative to release or transfer them from Guantanamo as a
positive development.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
Aguirre
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AMB. CLINT WILLIAMSON
EUR/PGI FOR NERISSA COOK
EUR/WE FOR GARY CLEMENTS AND ANGELA CERVETTI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PHUM, PINR, KAWC, XG, SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN ON TAKING GUANTANAMO DETAINEES
REF: A. STATE 36991
B. STATE 37005
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
(C) The DCM requested GOS assistance in resettling
Guantanamo detainees during a meeting with Director General
for North America and Europe Jose Maria PONS Irazazabal on
March 29. Pons told the DCM that he would pass the request
to Secretary of State for Foreign Policy Bernardino Leon.
Speaking without instructions, Pons said that it would be
"nearly impossible" to accept any Guantanamo detainees
because of the political situation in Spain and the risk of
adverse public opinion. Pons added that the GOS appreciated
the U.S. efforts on Guantanamo and would probably be willing
to help lobby other states over which Spain has influence to
accept the individuals. He asked that the USG provide
additional background information on any such individuals
where Spanish assistance might be helpful in obtaining their
resettlement in a third country. He reiterated that Spain
would likely be unable to accept any detainees but viewed the
initiative to release or transfer them from Guantanamo as a
positive development.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
Aguirre