Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID1014
2008-09-23 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE, NON-PAPER ON MESA GROUP
how-toVZCZCXRO9468 RR RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #1014 2671333 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231333Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5357 INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0350 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3587 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0090
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001014
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR RICHARD NEPHEW AND JODY DANIEL IN ISN/RA AND
HEATHER VON BEHREN IN IO/T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC IR SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE, NON-PAPER ON MESA GROUP
SEAT AT IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
REF: SECSTATE 99745
Classified By: DCM Arnold A. Chacon for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001014
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR RICHARD NEPHEW AND JODY DANIEL IN ISN/RA AND
HEATHER VON BEHREN IN IO/T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC IR SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE, NON-PAPER ON MESA GROUP
SEAT AT IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
REF: SECSTATE 99745
Classified By: DCM Arnold A. Chacon for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. Embassy Madrid engaged the GOS through a
variety of channels to solicit Madrid's support of USG
actions described in REFTEL. The GOS has stated that it
shares USG concerns about the prospect of Syria or Iran
obtaining a seat on the IAEA Board of Directors, but has
indicated that Madrid would vote in favor of Kazakhstan's
candidacy if the Mesa Group could not resolve the issue
through its own voting process. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) PolCouns delivered the substance U.S. concerns via
telephone to Carmen Bujan, the MFA's DG for Strategic Affairs
and Terrorism, and to the chief of staff to the MFA's new
Political Director. (The Poldir was already en route to New
York for UNGA meetings.) Bujan indicated Spain shared U.S.
concern about the Iran and Syria candidacies.
3. (C) PolOff delivered the talking points and classified
non-paper to Gonzalo de Salazar, the MFA's Deputy DG for
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, who emphasized two points:
(1) that GOS hoped that the Mesa Group would resolve the
matter through its own voting process rather than have the
unresolved issue go to a vote among the IAEA General
Conference. (2) However, if the General Conference had to
vote, the GOS would support Kazakhstan, which Salazar said
has very good credentials for the seat. He said that the GOS
considers Kazakhstan a stronger candidate than Afghanistan
and suggested that Asana has pursued a better trajectory in
terms of its proliferation and non-proliferation policies.
4 (C) Comment: Salazar showed no indication that Madrid was
considering supporting Syria's candidacy as a goodwill
gesture in advance of Spanish President Zapatero's recently
announced trip to Syria, which is tentatively scheduled to
occur before the end of the year.
Aguirre
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR RICHARD NEPHEW AND JODY DANIEL IN ISN/RA AND
HEATHER VON BEHREN IN IO/T
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC IR SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE, NON-PAPER ON MESA GROUP
SEAT AT IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
REF: SECSTATE 99745
Classified By: DCM Arnold A. Chacon for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. Embassy Madrid engaged the GOS through a
variety of channels to solicit Madrid's support of USG
actions described in REFTEL. The GOS has stated that it
shares USG concerns about the prospect of Syria or Iran
obtaining a seat on the IAEA Board of Directors, but has
indicated that Madrid would vote in favor of Kazakhstan's
candidacy if the Mesa Group could not resolve the issue
through its own voting process. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) PolCouns delivered the substance U.S. concerns via
telephone to Carmen Bujan, the MFA's DG for Strategic Affairs
and Terrorism, and to the chief of staff to the MFA's new
Political Director. (The Poldir was already en route to New
York for UNGA meetings.) Bujan indicated Spain shared U.S.
concern about the Iran and Syria candidacies.
3. (C) PolOff delivered the talking points and classified
non-paper to Gonzalo de Salazar, the MFA's Deputy DG for
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, who emphasized two points:
(1) that GOS hoped that the Mesa Group would resolve the
matter through its own voting process rather than have the
unresolved issue go to a vote among the IAEA General
Conference. (2) However, if the General Conference had to
vote, the GOS would support Kazakhstan, which Salazar said
has very good credentials for the seat. He said that the GOS
considers Kazakhstan a stronger candidate than Afghanistan
and suggested that Asana has pursued a better trajectory in
terms of its proliferation and non-proliferation policies.
4 (C) Comment: Salazar showed no indication that Madrid was
considering supporting Syria's candidacy as a goodwill
gesture in advance of Spanish President Zapatero's recently
announced trip to Syria, which is tentatively scheduled to
occur before the end of the year.
Aguirre