Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID937
2007-05-17 14:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
VAN WALSUM IN MADRID MAY 18
how-toVZCZCXRO8558 PP RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #0937 1371455 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171455Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2534 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 3937 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0906 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 1148 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1352 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 6019 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0843 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2703 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 1534 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0349
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG FOR ROBERT EWING
NEA/FO FOR DAS GRAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS AG MO WI SP
SUBJECT: VAN WALSUM IN MADRID MAY 18
REF: STATE 64947
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG FOR ROBERT EWING
NEA/FO FOR DAS GRAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS AG MO WI SP
SUBJECT: VAN WALSUM IN MADRID MAY 18
REF: STATE 64947
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy
Director General for North Africa Manuel Gomez-Acebo on May
17. Gomez-Acebo told Poloff that UN Personal Envoy Peter van
Walsum had postponed his planned May 16-22 tour of the
Maghreb on May 15 and would instead be in Madrid May 18 for a
meeting with Foreign Minister Moratinos. Gomez-Acebo did not
know what had prompted van Walsum to cancel his consultation
trip.
2. (C) On the substance of the demarche, Gomez-Acebo agreed
that the resolution was a success and that the Group of
Friends needs to maintain the momentum. He said that Spain
could support the idea of bringing the sides together to
discuss format and formalities simply to get the process
moving rather than attempting to address substance at a first
meeting. During DAS Gray's April visit to Madrid, Director
General Alvaro Iranzo had similarly proposed initial meetings
to address issues of lesser importance before tackling the
main dispute. On the idea of selecting a location,
Gomez-Acebo offered that this could be done through informal
consultations with the Group of Friends, and he added that
Spain would support getting van Walsum to address these
formalities quickly even if he wants to move more slowly on
beginning substantive negotiations. Gomez-Acebo noted that
Spain shares van Walsum's concern that it would be risky to
try for too much too fast.
3. (C) Noting previous statements by Gomez-Acebo and Iranzo
that perhaps the Polisario did not see van Walsum as a
credible facilitator, Poloff asked whether Spain feels that
van Walsum can do the job. Gomez-Acebo replied that Spain is
definitely not advocating replacing van Walsum, but given the
importance of this opportunity, it is necessary to take
advantage of the moment and make sure that neither party has
an excuse to refuse negotiations. Gomez-Acebo said that van
Walsum has proven to be less pro-Morocco than initially
perceived. He regretted that van Walsum had postponed his
trip to the region as it would have been a good chance to
check the temperature of the Polisario.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
LLORENS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NEA/MAG FOR ROBERT EWING
NEA/FO FOR DAS GRAY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS AG MO WI SP
SUBJECT: VAN WALSUM IN MADRID MAY 18
REF: STATE 64947
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy
Director General for North Africa Manuel Gomez-Acebo on May
17. Gomez-Acebo told Poloff that UN Personal Envoy Peter van
Walsum had postponed his planned May 16-22 tour of the
Maghreb on May 15 and would instead be in Madrid May 18 for a
meeting with Foreign Minister Moratinos. Gomez-Acebo did not
know what had prompted van Walsum to cancel his consultation
trip.
2. (C) On the substance of the demarche, Gomez-Acebo agreed
that the resolution was a success and that the Group of
Friends needs to maintain the momentum. He said that Spain
could support the idea of bringing the sides together to
discuss format and formalities simply to get the process
moving rather than attempting to address substance at a first
meeting. During DAS Gray's April visit to Madrid, Director
General Alvaro Iranzo had similarly proposed initial meetings
to address issues of lesser importance before tackling the
main dispute. On the idea of selecting a location,
Gomez-Acebo offered that this could be done through informal
consultations with the Group of Friends, and he added that
Spain would support getting van Walsum to address these
formalities quickly even if he wants to move more slowly on
beginning substantive negotiations. Gomez-Acebo noted that
Spain shares van Walsum's concern that it would be risky to
try for too much too fast.
3. (C) Noting previous statements by Gomez-Acebo and Iranzo
that perhaps the Polisario did not see van Walsum as a
credible facilitator, Poloff asked whether Spain feels that
van Walsum can do the job. Gomez-Acebo replied that Spain is
definitely not advocating replacing van Walsum, but given the
importance of this opportunity, it is necessary to take
advantage of the moment and make sure that neither party has
an excuse to refuse negotiations. Gomez-Acebo said that van
Walsum has proven to be less pro-Morocco than initially
perceived. He regretted that van Walsum had postponed his
trip to the region as it would have been a good chance to
check the temperature of the Polisario.
--------------
Visit Embassy Madrid's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/madrid/
--------------
LLORENS