SPAIN ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR ANDEAN PRESIDENTS

UNCLAS MADRID 000083 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA FOR A/S TOM SHANNON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SP SUBJECT: SPAIN ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR ANDEAN PRESIDENTS REF: A. BOGOTA 267 ¶B. 2007 MADRID 2123 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's January 23 visit to Madrid, on the heels of the January 20 -22 visit of Peruvian President Alan Garcia, and the warm and public welcome extended to both by the Spanish government, send clear messages to the rest of the world: Spain has a stake in the future of Ibero America and will not be usurped by the likes of Venezuelan President Chavez. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Garcia's visit, ostensibly to encourage Spanish investment in Peru, was his first official visit since he was re-elected President of Peru in 2006. During the course of his stay, Garcia was received at all levels of the Spanish government and completed an impressive program with business leaders and media representatives, beginning with a working breakfast sponsored by a business association. He and Spanish President Zapatero met January 21 for about two hours. Zapatero reportedly offered assistance through Spain's development agency (AECI) to Peruvian literacy programs. The two presidents gave a joint press conference, at which Zapatero stressed the historical, cultural, and economic bilateral relations and congratulated Garcia on his economic and investment policies. Zapatero also offered his government's support to accelerate negotiations between the European Union and various Latin American regional groupings. In support of Garcia's investment agenda, Zapatero noted most of the big Spanish companies trust Peru. Garcia professed to offer Spanish businesses economic stability, legal security, and a consolidated democratic system. In addition to President Zapatero, Garcia met with Madrid Mayor Ruiz-Gallardon of the opposition Popular Party (PP) and with Spanish King Juan Carlos I, who also hosted a dinner in Garcia's honor. ¶3. (U) Juan Carlos also received Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Uribe attended the Fourth Congress of Victims of Terrorism in Madrid and met with Spanish activist judge Baltasar Garzon regarding Colombia's preparation of a decree, akin to Spain's statute, to assist victims of terrorism. President Uribe met with President Zapatero, participated in a joint press conference with the Spanish President, and addressed a luncheon forum organized by Europa Press. Uribe and Zapatero signed January 23 Spain's fifth "Strategic Association Agreement," adding Colombia to a list of Spain's closest partners in Latin America that already includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. The agreement calls for high-level bilateral meetings and a dialogue mechanism on human rights issues. During their joint press conference, Zapatero and Uribe stressed Spanish-Colombian friendship and close cooperation in the shared fight against terrorism. Zapatero noted Spain had always been on the side of Colombia and of Uribe himself, and he confirmed the GOS was willing to cooperate with France and Switzerland on a medical mission of 700-1000 people to look after hostages held by the FARC (ref A). Uribe expressed enthusiasm for the reactivation of the Europeans' cooperation mechanism to achieve the hostages' release, adding that he would welcome any "unilateral and unconditional" initiative by the FARC to release the hostages. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: The public highlight of Uribe's visit was his Churchillian Europa Press luncheon speech to leaders who represented a wide swathe of Spain's political and business elite, including Foreign Minister Moratinos. The DCM, who attended, described Uribe's speech, nearly 45 minutes without notes, as "masterful." Interrupted by generous applause and numerous standing ovations, the Colombian president conveyed remarkable energy and passion after more than five years in office. Though Uribe publicly deflected journalists' attempts to draw him into a discussion of Hugo Chavez's insults, his own outreach to European partners and stated support of Catholic Church efforts to negotiate are seen here as a dignified, above-board attempt to neutralize Chavez. Spain's red-carpet reception of Presidents Garcia and Uribe, just two months after the King's shushing of the Venezuelan president in Santiago (ref B),sends strong signals to Latin America and to the rest of the world that Spain considers itself a stakeholder and will continue to claim its place at the table and as an advocate for serious Latin American governments in European fora. LLORENS