Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MADRID1019
2009-10-19 06:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN'S VIEWS ON UNIFIL HANDOVER
how-toVZCZCXRO3118 PP RUEHLA DE RUEHMD #1019 2920605 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 190605Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1347 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0756 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0373 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1545 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2513 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2449 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0634 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1571 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0519 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 4158
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001019
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, IO/PSC, NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2019
TAGS: KPKO MARR MOPS PGOV PREL IT LE IS SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON UNIFIL HANDOVER
REF: STATE 105467
Classified By: Acting DCM William Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001019
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, IO/PSC, NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2019
TAGS: KPKO MARR MOPS PGOV PREL IT LE IS SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON UNIFIL HANDOVER
REF: STATE 105467
Classified By: Acting DCM William Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MOD Director General for Defense Policy, General
Raggio, shared information about how Spain is preparing for a
proposed UNIFIL command handover. Spain is still working
towards a transition sometime in February, although they have
heard that there have been "rumblings" from the Italian
military that a delay might occur. Our Spanish contacts
believe that most of the Italian defense leadership is
willing and able to continue the UNIFIL mission, but that PM
Berlusconi is directing the change for political reasons.
2. (C) In terms of next steps, the Spanish are preparing
for General Alberto Asarta Cuevas to interview with UN
officials via videoteleconference the week of October 19. At
this time, Spain has no plans for additional troops beyond
the previously announced 200 headquarters staff that would
accompany General Asarta Cuevas. We stressed the importance
of avoiding any reduction in the overall number of European
troops in UNIFIL. Raggio said that Spain anticipated that
the UN DPKO would need to focus on force generation if it
determined that additional troop levels were required.
CHACON
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, IO/PSC, NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2019
TAGS: KPKO MARR MOPS PGOV PREL IT LE IS SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON UNIFIL HANDOVER
REF: STATE 105467
Classified By: Acting DCM William Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) MOD Director General for Defense Policy, General
Raggio, shared information about how Spain is preparing for a
proposed UNIFIL command handover. Spain is still working
towards a transition sometime in February, although they have
heard that there have been "rumblings" from the Italian
military that a delay might occur. Our Spanish contacts
believe that most of the Italian defense leadership is
willing and able to continue the UNIFIL mission, but that PM
Berlusconi is directing the change for political reasons.
2. (C) In terms of next steps, the Spanish are preparing
for General Alberto Asarta Cuevas to interview with UN
officials via videoteleconference the week of October 19. At
this time, Spain has no plans for additional troops beyond
the previously announced 200 headquarters staff that would
accompany General Asarta Cuevas. We stressed the importance
of avoiding any reduction in the overall number of European
troops in UNIFIL. Raggio said that Spain anticipated that
the UN DPKO would need to focus on force generation if it
determined that additional troop levels were required.
CHACON