SPANISH VIEWS ON APRIL GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000474

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS:
EUN, PREL, PGOV, SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH VIEWS ON APRIL GAERC

REF: STATE 43742

Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Spanish MFA expects the Balkans to
dominate the April 28-29 GAERC but it also has strong
opinions on Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Somalia, and the Middle East.
END SUMMARY.

//SERBIA//


2. (C) Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for ESDP Carlos
Fernandez-Arias told Poloff April 25 that the GAERC would not
be able to sign the SAA with Serbia, due to the continuing
concerns of some EU states in advance of Serbia's elections.
He said that the Spanish message to both Serbian FM Jeremic
and the Kosovars was on the importance of no further security
incidents prior to the elections. Spain expects to support
an EU liberalization of visa requirements for Serbia that
will go part of the way to the SAA.

//KOSOVO//


3. (C) The GAERC will continue working on the EULEX mission
and will discuss the importance of a quick transition with
UNMIK, but Fernandez-Arias said the EU was still waiting for
the UN go-ahead. The GOS has not wavered from their
non-recognition of Kosovo, and Foreign Minister Moratinos
took the opportunity to restate that opposition during an
April 22 meeting with Serbian FM Jeremic. However, Spain
claims to be leading the effort for Serbian integration into
the EU.

//GEORGIA//


4. (C) Lithuania asked for Georgia to be included on the
agenda, and the EU will consider a statement calling for
respect of Georgia's territorial integrity and borders in the
hopes of sending a strong message to Russia. Spain supports
this message, according to Fernandez-Arias.

//IRAQ//


5. (C) The GAERC will issue conclusions calling for member
states to support the May Iraq Compact meeting. Poloff
emphasized that the U.S. would appreciate European assistance
in pushing Gulf States to open embassies in Baghdad.

//MEPP//


6. (C) Spain is concerned by the fact that the Quartet has
not met since Annapolis. There is concern among EU states
that the peace process has bogged down once more. GAERC
conclusions may also ask the Israeli government to
incorporate some sort of message to Palestinians as part of
the 60th anniversary celebrations.

//ZIMBABWE//


7. (C) The GAERC will consider conclusions declaring the
GOZ's failure to issue the elections results "unacceptable."
The conclusions will also call for an end to violence, as EU
states are receiving reports of increasing violence and
serious human rights abuses in rural areas. Fernandez-Arias
said there is a pessimistic mood in the EU that SADC has not
done enough to push, and that a more aggressive approach,
similar to what recently worked in Kenya, may be necessary.

//PAKISTAN//


8. (C) Fernandez-Arias said the EU is concerned about the
potential for democratic instability in Pakistan. Spain
wants the GAERC to consider Pakistan as an entity unto
itself, not as an extension of the problem in Afghanistan.
Fernandez-Arias said that Spain would support a role for EU
development assistance on health, education, and social
affairs in the Pakistani Federally Administered Tribal Areas,
similar to what is already being done on the Afghan side of
the border by ISAF partners.

//SOMALIA//


9. (C) Although Spain is admittedly preoccupied with the
immediate problem of their captured trawler in Somali waters,
Fernandez-Arias said that Spain would bring piracy up at the
GAERC in terms of the need for a long-term approach to this
issues, which clearly will not go away. He said Spain is
working this issue at the UN and within EU COPS as well.
AGUIRRE