Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID128
2008-02-07 12:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
how-toVZCZCXRO1715 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #0128 0381220 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071220Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4208 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000128
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR FOR A/S FRIED, DAS VOLKER, DAS DICARLO
EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL SP KV
SUBJECT: SPAIN DEPUTY FM LEON ON KOSOVO UDI
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000128
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR FOR A/S FRIED, DAS VOLKER, DAS DICARLO
EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL SP KV
SUBJECT: SPAIN DEPUTY FM LEON ON KOSOVO UDI
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy FM Bernardino Leon approached Charge at a
luncheon speech given by President Zapatero in Madrid
February 6, to inform that Spain remained unable to support
EU consensus on Kosovo prior to Spain's March 9 elections.
Leon reiterated previously raised concerns about the
sensitivities of Spanish regional politics during the
election season. Leon said that no senior political leader
in Spain could countenance Spanish support for EU consensus
prior to the elections. Comments to the media by former
President Aznar indicated that the PP would also remain very
opposed to a UDI.
2. (C) Leon said that a U.S. attempt to move forward in
February would cause internal division in the EU, not only
with Spain. Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania all
remained opposed. Leon, who was in Athens on February 5,
said that Spain and Greece were in full agreement on the need
for delay. The Tadic victory in Serbia meant that U.S.
concerns about deterioration on the ground in Kosovo had
lessened considerably.
3. (C) Leon said that Spain's position would not change
between now and March 9, and the U.S. should therefore wait
for the sake of U.S.-EU unity. Leon said that Spain would go
along with EU consensus immediately following the elections
and could even commit to the U.S. on a set date for Spanish
recognition, though not in the first group.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
EUR FOR A/S FRIED, DAS VOLKER, DAS DICARLO
EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018
TAGS: PREL SP KV
SUBJECT: SPAIN DEPUTY FM LEON ON KOSOVO UDI
Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy FM Bernardino Leon approached Charge at a
luncheon speech given by President Zapatero in Madrid
February 6, to inform that Spain remained unable to support
EU consensus on Kosovo prior to Spain's March 9 elections.
Leon reiterated previously raised concerns about the
sensitivities of Spanish regional politics during the
election season. Leon said that no senior political leader
in Spain could countenance Spanish support for EU consensus
prior to the elections. Comments to the media by former
President Aznar indicated that the PP would also remain very
opposed to a UDI.
2. (C) Leon said that a U.S. attempt to move forward in
February would cause internal division in the EU, not only
with Spain. Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania all
remained opposed. Leon, who was in Athens on February 5,
said that Spain and Greece were in full agreement on the need
for delay. The Tadic victory in Serbia meant that U.S.
concerns about deterioration on the ground in Kosovo had
lessened considerably.
3. (C) Leon said that Spain's position would not change
between now and March 9, and the U.S. should therefore wait
for the sake of U.S.-EU unity. Leon said that Spain would go
along with EU consensus immediately following the elections
and could even commit to the U.S. on a set date for Spanish
recognition, though not in the first group.
LLORENS