SPANISH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF MARCH 10 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000281 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN ZL ZI IR GG IS SY LE SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF MARCH 10 GAERC REF: STATE 22352 MADRID 00000281 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff delivered GAERC demarche points to Spanish MFA Deputy Political Director for ESDP Carlos Fernandez-Arias on March 6. Fernandez-Arias said that the GAERC would be somewhat light this month. Javier Solana will brief on the Middle East and the EU will go forward with new Iran sanctions. He said there would be little discussion of the Western Balkans, Pakistan or Afghanistan. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered GAERC demarche points to Spanish MFA Deputy Political Director for ESDP Carlos Fernandez-Arias on March 6. Fernandez-Arias made the following points. //Western Balkans// ¶3. (C) There will be little discussion of Kosovo, but some on the rest of the Balkans. Spain does not agree with the characterization of Serbia seeking a "de facto Kosovo-Serb entity" in Northern Kosovo. There is clearly the risk of a soft partition, but only concerted diplomacy will prevent this, not a show of force. //Syria/Lebanon// ¶4. (C) The EU will continue to call for an internal Lebanese solution to the political deadlock. EU member states will remain engaged with Damascus, because there must be a way to pass messages and to communicate with the Syrian government. Spain understands clearly that the SARG are bad actors in Lebanon. Fernandez-Arias said Spain's priority is avoiding a civil war. He said neither side in Lebanon wants a civil war, and efforts must be made to avoid any spark that could provoke such a war. //MEPP// ¶5. (C) The GAERC will take note of the visits by the Secretary and by Javier Solana. Solana will provide a SIPDIS briefing. The GAERC will continue to call for a cease-fire and negotiations. Spain is very concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Physically isolating and blockading Gaza will not hurt Hamas as much as their incompetence at governing when the borders are open and aid is flowing. Finally, Spain feels that the recent Gaza incursion has significantly weakened President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. Spain remains committed to Annapolis, which sets long-term goals that are still reachable. //IRAN// ¶6. (C) The GAERC will adopt the latest UNSCR sanctions, including some additional entities beyond the letter of the resolution. However, Spain does not support additional autonomous sanctions because it will go beyond the UN framework, creating a dynamic of Iran versus the West or Iran versus Europe which would endanger the support of some reluctant UNSC members. As it stands, the UNSC and the international community are united in their stance against Iran, and additional increased pressure by one segment of the community could endanger that unity. ¶7. (C) Additionally, Fernandez-Arias said that European businesses have received the message clearly and additional sanctions may not even be necessary. He said that member states have noted that European firms are looking much more carefully at business and commerce with Iran, and that some major new business ventures have been scrapped or put on hold as a result of UN actions. He said that this trend from the business community sends a far more powerful message to the Iranian government than EU sanctions. //Zimbabwe// ¶8. (C) The fundamental problem in Zimbabwe is the government, and a transparent election will not have any impact on the GOZ. The GAERC will not call for observers. Spain is considering increasing its direct food aid to address growing humanitarian concerns. //Georgia// ¶9. (C) Spain supports Georgia's territorial integrity and hopes for improvements in the May elections. The EU is close to concluding free trade agreements and visa agreements with MADRID 00000281 002.2 OF 002 Georgia. //EU President// ¶10. (C) Poloff asked whether the MFA had started thinking about possible candidates for president of the European Council. Fernandez-Arias said that one hears around the building that Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker is well and favorably known to the Spanish and could be a good president, but he cautioned that this was not in any way the official GOS position, and that no serious discussion could take place in advance of Spain's own elections March 9. AGUIRRE