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