S/I SATTERFIELD BRIEFS SPANISH MFA ON IRAQ

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000988

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL IZ SP
SUBJECT: S/I SATTERFIELD BRIEFS SPANISH MFA ON IRAQ
DEVELOPMENTS

REF: STATE 96122

MADRID 00000988 001.3 OF 002


Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) SUMMARY. September 11, S/I Ambassador Satterfield
briefed Deputy Foreign Minister Lossada on developments in
Iraq. He urged the Spanish to reinforce our call for
increased regional support for Iraq and to encourage those
countries that have already sent diplomatic representation
and/or participated in high-level visits. With respect to
Syria, Bashar al-Assad should be challenged to engage in a
positive manner with regard to Abu Ghadiyah and other foreign
fighter facilitator networks. Lossada agreed regarding the
danger posed by foreign fighters and noted Spanish action to
crack down on terrorist cells. Asked about the possibility
of a visit by FM Moratinos to Iraq, Lossada said that the
government position on Iraq since its decision to withdraw
troops in 2004 was "maturing" and that a visit might be
possible in the new year. Presented with opportunities for
enhanced support in national police training and rule-of-law,
Lossada hedged any commitment for direct Spanish involvement
and given the political climate in Spain, it would be very
difficult to "sell" the public on the idea of putting either
Spanish police or civil servants in Iraq. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) September 11, S/I Ambassador Satterfield briefed
Deputy Foreign Minister Lossada on developments in Iraq.
With a view to FM Moratinos' Middle East swing to Egypt,
Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Jordan and
Syria during September 12-17, Satterfield urged the Spanish
to reinforce our call for increased regional support for Iraq
and to encourage those countries that have already sent
diplomatic representation and/or participated in high-level
visits. Iraq's neighbors had been inactive for too long and
their engagement was needed to stabilize the region. Jordan,
Egypt and the Palestinians should hear the international
community's appreciation for their increased contact with
Iraq. Lossada said he would factor those points into their
agenda and explained that the Moratinos trip would further
Spain's interest in promoting Middle East peace and also
launch Spain's bid to have Barcelona named as the
headquarters of the new Union of the Mediterranean.


3. (S) Satterfield described the significant positive
changes taking place in Iraq, notably on security, increasing
regional engagement with Baghdad, and the ongoing U.S.-Iraq
discussions on a post-UNSCR security arrangement and
long-term strategic relationship that took account of
enhanced Iraqi sense of national capacity, decision-making
and sovereignty. While Iraq is not violence free and al-Qaida
- while significantly battered and constrained - continued to
be present, the margin to foment violence is reduced. Given
FM Moratinos' emphasis on his "good relationship with the
Syrians," Satterfield noted that Spain could help promote
constructive relations between Damascus and Baghdad. The
U.S. wants to see constructive political, economic and
security ties between Iraq and Syria that will promote
regional stability. However, Satterfield underscored, Syria
has made no meaningful steps on security in general and with
regard to foreign fighters in particular. With specific
respect to the Abu Ghadiyah network of foreign fighters,
Syria was exploiting the network for its own purposes without
curbing the flow of suicide bombers into Iraq - and without
regard to broader regional security concerns. Satterfield
emphasized that Syria could not claim any credit for current
reduction in violence in Iraq, but that Bashar al-Assad
should be challenged to engage in a positive manner with
regard to Abu Ghadiyah and other foreign fighter facilitator
networks. Lossada, who managed the counter-terrorism,
non-proliferation and disarmament MFA portfolio until April
2008, asked for more information about foreign fighter flows.
Satterfield said that foreign fighter numbers were down
because Iraq had become a much more difficult and hostile
environment for them, particularly as Iraqi forces, with
Coalition support, gained the upper hand in more and more of
the country. As a consequence, there needed to be increasing
attention given to denying sanctuary for foreign fighters
leaving Iraq - and to those now present and accumulating in
Syria. Lossada agreed regarding the danger posed and noted
Spanish action to crack down on terrorist cells.


4. (C) As UNSC Resolution 1790 expires on December 31 and
would be - hopefully - replaced by bilateral arrangements,
Satterfield said that Spain would be uniquely qualified to
work under the NATO Training Mission (NTM-I) to provide
national police training from the Guardia Civil and/or

MADRID 00000988 002.2 OF 002


provide critically needed rule-of-law programs in Iraq. He
cited the success of the Italian Carabiniari cooperation and
emphasized that the training programs should be held in Iraq;
it was no longer necessary or appropriate to conduct
assistance programs outside Iraq. Asked by Lossada about the
effectiveness of UN efforts, Satterfield reviewed and praised
Staffan di Mistura's work to resolve disputed internal
boundaries (Article 140) and support provincial elections.
Lossada agreed that the situation was evolving and that Spain
would consider how to contribute to Iraq's stabilization by
reviewing all the options carefully. Asked about the
possibility of a visit by FM Moratinos to Iraq, Lossada said
that the government position on Iraq since its decision to
withdraw troops in 2004 was "maturing" and that a visit might
be possible in the new year. Lossada's staff asked to be
kept informed of the dates for a Neighbor's Ministerial
Conference in Baghdad (possibly in early November) so they
could factor that event into their planning.

5. (U) Spain reports 100% disbursement of its Iraq Donors
Conference pledge made in Madrid during 2003, with the
qualifying proviso that some concessional loans are not yet
finalized due to Iraqi capacity issues and specific project
proposals are pending. In addition, Spain contributes to
Iraq through the EUJUST LEX program for capacity building.
In 2007, the GOS trained 160 judicial, police and penal
system officials in human rights and civil society
development in Spain. Apart from its Madrid Conference
pledge, Spain contributed more than 800,000 euros for
displaced persons relief in Jordan and Syria.


6. (C) COMMENT: Lossada was very appreciative of the Iraq
briefing and expressed particular interest in the security
aspects, especially the prospect that foreign fighters might
boomerang to North Africa or Spain. He was clearly hedging
any commitment for direct Spanish support for Iraq and given
the political climate in Spain, it would be very difficult to
"sell" the public on the idea of putting either Spanish
police or civil servants in Iraq. The PSOE-led socialist
government must take care not to undermine its withdrawal
position that was based on an argument that the UN
authorities were not legal grounds for invading Iraq. With
the end of the MNF-I and increased Iraqi sovereignty and
independence over time, there might be more possibilities to
encourage a renewed Spanish presence. In the meantime,
ensuring that Spain receives credit for its efforts with
KFOR, Afghanistan and Lebanon would provide the positive
encouragement needed to keep them productively engaged.
Lossada said that he looked forward to seeing NEA Assistant
Secretary Welch at UNGA to discuss the peace process and
other matters of regional interest. END COMMENT.






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