SPANISH INTEREST IN FEATURED ROLE AT GI EXERCISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001048 SIPDIS PASS TO BRIAN LEWIS OF ISN/WMDT, TIM KATSAPIS OF T, AND ELAINE SAMSON OF EUR/WE. E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2018 TAGS: MCAP PARM PINR PINS PREL KGIC SP SUBJECT: SPANISH INTEREST IN FEATURED ROLE AT GI EXERCISE PLANNING GROUP REF: SECSTATE 101862 Classified By: Acting DCM Dan Keller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post delivered draft agenda for the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism's meeting of its Exercise Planning Group in Washington, DC during November 13-14, 2008. GOS officials indicated Spain's intention to attend and responded positively to a USG suggestion that the Spanish deliver a presentation during a workshop on the mechanics of conducting international exercises. ¶2. (SBU) PolOff and Brian Lewis of ISN/WDT delivered the draft agenda to Spanish inter-agency officials on September 24, the final day of a three-day working-level visit to Spain by US officials on GI issues. The Spanish were hosting the US delegation to help plan the Field Training Exercise (FTX) that the GOS and USG will present to GI partners in Avila, Spain during October 15-17. Lewis, who led the US delegation, acknowledged and expressed USG support for Spain's busy role on GI issues during 2008. Madrid hosted a GI Table Top Exercise in May, the GI Plenary Meeting in June, and is preparing the FTX in October. ¶3. (SBU) In presenting the draft agenda for the November EPG, Lewis indicated that the USG would welcome a presentation by the GOS on any lessons learned on multilateral cooperation and communication as a result of its GI activities this year. He noted that such a presentation could be especially useful for future hosts of GI events, especially those from developing countries who could follow the GOS example. ¶4. (C) Both during the September 24 meeting and in subsequent conversations with PolOff, Spain's two primary contacts on GI issues -- Joaquin Collado, adviser to Deputy Minister of Interior Antonio Camacho, and Carlos Torres, Counselor for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament at the MFA -- both indicated GOS interest in attending the EPG and supporting the exercise workshop. Torres stated that the GOS has plenty of material available based on its TTX that was presented at the Plenary that would just need to be updated. ¶5. (C) In the September 24 meeting, Torres also made several other observations. He noted that the GI is not well established in Latin America and suggested that, with combined USG and GOS encouragement, Chile might provide an opportunity for further progress in that region. He also indicated that the GOS would prefer that the IAEA and the GI more closely link their activities. He remarked that the GI conducts state-of-the-art exercises and suggested the IAEA could learn from what the GI is doing. ¶6. (U) This cable has been cleared by Brian Lewis of ISN/WMDT. KELLER