SPAIN: MFA OFFICIAL SPEAKS ON GLOBAL INITIATIVE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001182

SIPDIS

PASS TO BRIAN LEWIS OF ISN/WMDT, TIM KATSAPIS OF T, AND
ELAINE SAMSON OF EUR/WE.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2018
TAGS: MCAP KNNP PINR PINS SP KGIC PTER PREL
SUBJECT: SPAIN: MFA OFFICIAL SPEAKS ON GLOBAL INITIATIVE,
NUCLEAR CT EXERCISES, AND IAEA

REF: A. SECSTATE 113280

B. UNVIE VIENNA 00572

C. SECSTATE 109152

D. MADRID 1116

E. MADRID 1048

Classified By: DCM Arnold A. Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In recent weeks, Carlos Torres, Counselor
for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFA),has shared
information with Embassy Madrid officials on a range of
subjects related to non-proliferation, including Spanish
participation at an upcoming exercise by the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GI),Madrid's desire
to further strengthen operational cooperation in combating
nuclear terrorism, and Tokyo's plans to lobby Madrid for the
Japanese candidate for Director General of the IAEA. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) As per REFTEL A, Post delivered to the MFA an
invitation and draft agenda for the GI's meeting of its
Exercise Planning Group in Arlington, VA during November
13-14, 2008. GOS officials indicated Spain's intention to
attend and responded positively to a USG suggestion that
Spanish delegation leader Carlos Torres deliver two
presentations on the mechanics of conducting international
exercises and on lessons learned. The MFA on November 4
confirmed that the Spanish delegation will consist of:
- Carlos Torres Vidal, Counselor for Nuclear
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, MFA
- Lt. Col. Alfredo Montero Fernandez, Civil Guard,
Secretariat of State for Security, Ministry of Interior
- Antonio Perez Baez, Expert, Nuclear Security Council


3. (C) In separate, private conversations, Torres has stated
to POLOFF and POLCONS that Madrid wants to deepen cooperation
to combat nuclear terrorism within an international context.
He appears to be the driving force behind a November 4 fax
sent to the Embassy on that same subject by his boss, Carmen
Bujan, MFA DG for Strategic Affairs and Terrorism. Torres has
elaborated that the GOS wants to do more of the types of
emergency preparedness operational exercises such as the GI's
recently concluded Field Training Exercise (October 15-17) in
Avila, Spain. Specifically, the GOS wants to do more on a
bilateral basis with the US, UK, France, and Germany. Torres
said he believes that the political framework for this type
of cooperation is well established, and so now he wants to
deepen the cooperation, especially with the US, on an
operational basis. Specifically, he cited his interest in
having the Ministry of Interior (MOI) work closely with "the
DHS and other US security services." He said that he has
asked the MOI to prepare, during the new year, a proposal for
more technical exercises and training cooperation.


4. (C) Torres' responsibilities also include
non-proliferation aspects of Madrid's role in the IAEA, where
Spain has recently been elected to the Board of Governors
during 2008-2010. He has told POLOFF that a mid-level
Japanese delegation is scheduled to arrive in Madrid on
November 24 for a meeting in which they will lay the
groundwork for Japanese IAEA Governor Yukiya Amano's
candidacy for the IAEA's Director General position in June

2009. (COMMENT: The Japanese visit has been scheduled only a
month after Spain's election to the IAEA Board of Governors,
as noted in REFTEL B, suggesting Tokyo will undertake an
extensive lobbying campaign on behalf of Amano. END COMMENT.)
Torres has said Spain has not committed to any candidate at
this very early stage but will listen to the Japanese
delegation, which will set the stage for more senior-level
discussions in the future.
AGUIRRE