SPAIN LAMENTS RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION OF SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000935 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA) AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL RU GG SP SUBJECT: SPAIN LAMENTS RUSSIA'S RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA REF: A. STATE 91894 ¶B. MADRID 929 Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel a to Spanish MFA Deputy Political Director Ricardo Lopez Aranda on August 27. Lopez echoed the official statement released August 26 by Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, expressing Spain's regret at Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. FM Moratinos called Moscow's actions "unacceptable," stated that they did not contribute to creating conditions for resolving the conflict between Russia and Georgia, and said it was "urgent" that Moscow abide by the EU's peace plan agreed to with Tbilisi. FM Moratinos also reiterated the need to respect the principals of international law and the territorial integrity of States, and in this case, of Georgia. ¶2. (U) In addition to the wide press coverage of Russia's recognition and FM Moratinos' response, El Mundo ran an opinion piece August 27 by-lined by U.S. Ambassador Aguirre. The piece offered analysis of the Caucasus crisis, stating that "Russia has now put its international reputation and aspirations at risk." Ambassador Aguirre said that the first step Russia must take to repair its reputation is to "respect the ceasefire its president signed and stop all hostilities," adding that Russia must also "permit international monitors...allow for the distribution of humanitarian aid and adhere to Russia's previously professed policy of supporting Georgia's territorial integrity." This follows the Ambassador's address on August 19 to a group of business representatives in southern Spain, also covered in local press, in which he presented U.S. views on Russia,s aggressive military actions and the need for Russia to uphold its commitments to respect Georgia,s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Aguirre