Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID929
2008-08-25 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN REPSONDS TO POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8076 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #0929 2381525 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 251525Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5273 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3555
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000929
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA),EUR/WE AND GEORGIA TASK FORCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL RU GG SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN REPSONDS TO POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF
SEPARATIST REGIONS
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. MADRID 897
C. MADRID 916
Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000929
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA),EUR/WE AND GEORGIA TASK FORCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL RU GG SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN REPSONDS TO POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF
SEPARATIST REGIONS
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. MADRID 897
C. MADRID 916
Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On August 25, Polcouns spoke with Juan Sell, Chief of
Staff to Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel
Lossada. Sell said Spain's position was very clear - Spain
supported the territorial integrity of Georgia. Likewise,
Spain supported the efforts of France as EU President and
Finland as OSCE chair. Sell noted Spain was particularly
sensitive when it came to issues of separatism (no doubt
alluding to the Basques and Catalans). Sell, who recently
returned to Spain after a tour in Moscow, said the Duma had
in the past called for recognition of the separatist regions
or at least came close to doing so. Sell said such a call by
the Duma was one thing, but he certainly hoped the Russian
Government would not take such a negative step. As far as
pressing Russia not to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
Sell acknowledged our request and said he would discuss it
with Lossada.
2. (C) The newly appointed Spanish MFA Deputy Political
Director Ricardo Lopez Aranda echoed this message and stated
to poloff that persuading Russia to refrain from recognizing
the separatist regions would be an important part of an
international message. Lopez stated Spain will participate
in next week's European Council meeting and will likely
follow EU plans regarding peacekeeping or monitoring action
in the region.
Aguirre
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA),EUR/WE AND GEORGIA TASK FORCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL RU GG SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN REPSONDS TO POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF
SEPARATIST REGIONS
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. MADRID 897
C. MADRID 916
Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On August 25, Polcouns spoke with Juan Sell, Chief of
Staff to Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Angel
Lossada. Sell said Spain's position was very clear - Spain
supported the territorial integrity of Georgia. Likewise,
Spain supported the efforts of France as EU President and
Finland as OSCE chair. Sell noted Spain was particularly
sensitive when it came to issues of separatism (no doubt
alluding to the Basques and Catalans). Sell, who recently
returned to Spain after a tour in Moscow, said the Duma had
in the past called for recognition of the separatist regions
or at least came close to doing so. Sell said such a call by
the Duma was one thing, but he certainly hoped the Russian
Government would not take such a negative step. As far as
pressing Russia not to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
Sell acknowledged our request and said he would discuss it
with Lossada.
2. (C) The newly appointed Spanish MFA Deputy Political
Director Ricardo Lopez Aranda echoed this message and stated
to poloff that persuading Russia to refrain from recognizing
the separatist regions would be an important part of an
international message. Lopez stated Spain will participate
in next week's European Council meeting and will likely
follow EU plans regarding peacekeeping or monitoring action
in the region.
Aguirre