(U) NEA A/S WELCH,S SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, MEETING WITH SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL MORATINOS AND DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR MIDDLE EAST ALVARO IRANZO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 138404 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017 TAGS: OVIP WELCH DAVID UNGA PREL KPKO SP XI XF SUBJECT: (U) NEA A/S WELCH,S SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, MEETING WITH SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL MORATINOS AND DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR MIDDLE EAST ALVARO IRANZO Classified By: (U) Classified by: NEA Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, Department of State. Reason 1.4 (b and d) 2.(U) September 28, 2007, 1:00 p.m., New York ¶3. (U) Participants: United States A/S David Welch, NEA Kim Harrington, NEA (Notetaker) Elaine Samson, EUR (Notetaker) Spain Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos Director General for Middle East Alvaro Iranzo Political Director for Europe and North America Rafael Dezcallar Embassy Middle East Political Advisor Alvaro Rodriguez ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. The Spanish officials noted that "Spain has a special relationship with the Arab world and it is at the disposal of the United States." Spain thinks the upcoming Middle East Conference could be a real breakthrough, and wants to participate. FM Moratinos delivered a message that Palestinian Authority PM Abu Mazen needs U.S. support to insulate himself from Palestinian factions in order to deal at the conference. Moratinos claims Spain is trying to be as constructive as possible with Syria; he is not "friends" with Syria, but that his personal relationships with Syrian leaders may be able to change their behavior. Spain has many interests at stake in Western Sahara; "it is our Iraq." However, DG for Middle East Iranzo had no suggestions for progress. A/S Welch explained USG frustration with lack of progress between the parties, and plans for new language using the Moroccan proposal "as the basis for negotiation" in the October MINURSO renewal resolution. END SUMMARY. -------------- U.S. Conference on Middle East -------------- ¶5. (C) Spanish FM Moratinos thanked the United States for the upcoming conference on the Middle East and commented that he could see Secretary Rice's and A/S Welch's efforts to push all the parties so that the conference would be a real breakthrough, bringing the world to an historic moment. Moratinos said that he had to pass a political message to the United States that Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Abu Mazen feels there can be movement forward in the peace process with Israel, but that Abu Mazen would need U.S. support to insulate him from all the competing Palestinian factions. Moratinos stressed how important it is that Spain be invited to the conference, given how active Moratinos has been in the region and his extensive personal contacts with Middle East leaders. A/S Welch explained that the U.S. is not going to announce more details about the conference for about another month, and urged Spain not to misunderstand if the USG did not respond now. A/S Welch asked Spain for help to get Israel and the Palestinians to make some real gestures now, to pave the way for a successful conference. Welch also noted that we need the support of the Arabs on Abu Mazen and to delegitimate anyone who attacks the current steps in the process. -------------- Syria -------------- ¶6. (C) FM Moratinos admitted that he was very concerned about the whole stability of the Israeli- Palestinian peace process and the possibility of bringing Syria into the process in any kind of constructive manner. While insisting that Spain is not "friends" with Syria, Moratinos has good personal relations with Syrian leaders, which he hopes he can use to influence their behavior and policy. Moratinos said that the Syrians want STATE 00138404 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: (U) NEA A/S WELCH,S SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, MEETING WITH SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MIGUEL MORATINOS AND DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR MIDDLE EAST ALVARO IRAN to see that their issues with Israel will be addressed at the conference, or at some point in the process. A/S Welch said that the conference includes the comprehensive framework, but that the Arabs will focus on the Palestinians, not Syria. However, Syria will not be excluded. Moratinos reported that he recently met with Syrian President Bashir Al Assad and claimed that the Europeans want to disengage Syria from Iran and have offered Syria inducements to do so, but what Syria really wants is an offer from the United States. Moratinos reiterated that Spain is trying to be as constructive as possible in its talks with Syria. He said Syria knows that it will be cut out of relations if it does not behave constructively at the Washington Middle East Conference. A/S Welch told the Spanish that he was very worried about the Syrians because their behavior was becoming increasingly entrenched and they did not seem to understand the consequences of their actions. While it difficult to know if we can change Syria's behavior, it is possible to affect the Palestinians and Lebanon in a positive way and that will have an effect on Syrian strategic interests. -------------- Lebanon Border Mission -------------- ¶7. (C) Director General for the Middle East Alvaro Iranzo commented that the proposed EU mission to the Lebanon-Syria border area would be managed so that it was completely consistent with UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1559 and 1701. Iranzo said that in the EU's discussions with Lebanese PM Siniora, he was very positive about the idea. A/S Welch told Iranzo that Siniora had some specific views on the border mission if it comes together, including security issues, some camps associated with Syria, border demarcation issues, and the advisability of having both European and Arabs present in a mission. -------------- Western Sahara -------------- ¶8. (C) DG Iranzo talked at enormous length about the Spanish perspective on Western Sahara; about the importance of the Maghreb to Spain; and about Spanish concerns about terrorism coming from or through the Maghreb. "Western Sahara is our Iraq," said Iranzo, noting it is in the press every day. He reviewed the UN mechanism and its lack of progress despite the renewed talks over the past few months, although he did note that even Algeria had referred to Western Sahara as an "entity" which he viewed as an indication of flexibility. He offered no suggestions on a way forward. A/S Welch explained that the United States was unsure about what to do at this point, since it was clear Western Sahara would never be an independent state, and autonomy within Morocco was the best solution. We need to change the psychology of the situation and move beyond the out-moded ideas of self-determination that do not fit this situation. The Moroccan proposal is one way to do that. Working with the UN Special Representative, France and other countries are other ways. The United States would like to start inserting language into the MINURSO renewal resolution that the Moroccan proposal should be "the basis of negotiations." If that is not possible, and there is no progress among the parties, the USG may start saying publicly that it believes autonomy within Morocco is the best solution for Western Sahara. The USG believes that some progress an be made, and we would like to try to get some stronger language in the October MINRSO renewal resolution. The USG acknowledges that France and Spain have greater interests at stake in Western Sahara, but we feel it is time to start pushing Algeria toward a new understanding of an eventual solution. RICE