DAS BOYER'S MEETING WITH MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001023

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/FO, EUR/WE, S/CG SPECIAL ENVOY FRIED
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EEB SE MORNINGSTAR AND OES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EU SP
SUBJECT: DAS BOYER'S MEETING WITH MFA DIRECTOR GENERAL
FERNANDEZ DE LA PENA

MADRID 00001023 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES ARNOLD A. CHACON. REASONS: 1.4 (B,D).

SUMMARY


1. (C) On October 10 in Valencia, EUR DAS Spencer Boyer and
Spanish Foreign Ministry Director General of Foreign Policy
for Non-EU Europe and North America Luis Felipe Fernandez de
la Pena discussed transatlantic engagement, Spain's hopes for
its upcoming EU Presidency, cooperation on climate change and
energy, Turkey, and Spain's position on Guantanamo detainees.
Fernandez de la Pena characterized U.S.-EU relations as
solid but said Spain wants to help revitalize them. End
Summary


2. (C) DAS Boyer, accompanied by Charge d'Affaires, and DG
Fernandez de la Pena, accompanied by Deputy Director for
North America Fernando Prieto, met on the margins of the
October 9-10 U.S.-Spain Forum in Valencia. De la Pena began
by offering congratulations on President Obama's Nobel Peace
Prize. Commenting that "we have been very happy in Spain"
with the President's efforts to bring peace to the world, de
la Pena stated that the award represents not only an
important recognition of the President's efforts, but also a
reminder of his commitment; as such it carries with it a lot
of responsibility. DAS Boyer saw it as an encouragement of
the Administration's policy of engagement and a sign that the
world is behind the President.

EU PRESIDENCY


3. (C) De la Pena said that in the run-up to its EU
Presidency, Spain is reviewing how best to adjust
transatlantic relations. He mentioned the recent G-20
meeting in Pittsburgh and efforts to work together to address
the financial crisis. Noting that there are new power
centers in the world, he said the U.S. and EU must learn how
to engage with a multipolar constellation. The transatlantic
relationship is solid, but Spain wants to revitalize it. The
sheer size of the U.S. economy and the strong U.S. investor
presence in Europe have created an important transatlantic
community. De la Pena stated that in the first trimester of
2009, Spain was the third largest foreign investor in the
U.S., while the U.S. remains the largest foreign investor in
Spain. The bilateral economic relation is especially strong
in the area of renewable energy.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY


4. (C) Spain and the U.S., de la Pena continued, have a
common link in the fight against climate change. Spain
believes talks are at a very important stage and has high
expectations for Copenhagen, where it would like to see a
commitment to reductions of emissions and a package of
incentives. He also spoke favorably of a "very ambitious"
proposal by U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy
Morningstar for a Transatlantic Energy Council. De la Pena
noted that unlike a number of other European countries, Spain
is not dependent on Russia for oil or gas, but rather has a
diversified supply of hydrocarbons; nevertheless, the U.S.
and EU are on a quest for common energy policies enabling the
EU to be more energy independent. The EU Member States also
need to be more interconnected, he said, especially in
Central Europe. Europe imports 30% of its energy needs from
Russia, which exports 70% of its output. Thus, Russia is
dependent on Europe, not the other way around. Eighty
percent of Russian gas coming to Europe transits Ukraine.
This is why Europe needs alternative transit routes and why
pipelines like Nabucco is so important, with Turkey as a
critical hub.

EU AND SPANISH FOREIGN POLICY


5. (C) De la Pena referred to the EU Neighborhood Policy and
EU efforts to extend its influence to the "outer rim" of
Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Central Asia. He also said
the EU places a high priority on working with the U.S. both
bilaterally and multilaterally on areas of common interest.
He mentioned Spain's focus on Latin America, where in most
countries Spain is either the first or second foreign
investor, and said it wants to go further in working with the
U.S. on Cuba. Spain wants to reinforce its commonalities

MADRID 00001023 002.2 OF 002


with the 40 to 50 million Spanish-speakers in the United
States. He also referred Spain's intense interest in
combating poverty and improving living conditions in Africa
as one means of reducing illegal immigration by sea. In this
context, he cited Spain's contributions to the UNDP.

TURKEY


6. (C) DAS Boyer noted the priority the U.S. places on
strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey, mentioning the
Secretary's visit earlier this year and the Turkey-Armenia
agreement signed that day in Zurich. De la Pena, who
previously served as Spain's Ambassador to Turkey, noted that
many challenges remain to Turkey's EU accession, as Turkey is
not moving swiftly enough on necessary reforms. Boyer
commented that some in Turkey are demoralized by the lack of
support on the part of some EU members to Turkish accession,
which makes it hard to encourage democratic reforms. The EU
accession criteria complicate the situation, and a more
positive tone is needed. De la Pena agreed that some in
Turkey feel "victimized," leading to a netative dynamic, but
that the reform agenda is good for the country and will bring
Turkey many benefits apart from eventual EU membership. If
Turkey demonstrates a profound commitment to reform, it will
be rewarded. The Turks need to be reassured and recognized
as Europeans, he acknowledged. DAS Boyer said Turkey wants
to be treated as a strategic partner, to be brought earlier
into planning and to be given an opportunity to contribute.
Agreeing that the Turks want to be seen as equals by
Europeans, de la Pena concluded that there is a long, hard
road ahead, and that Turkey will need historic persistence,
tenacity, and stubbornness in order to prevail. Both sides
need tenacity, as it is important to anchor Turkey within
Europe.

GUANTANAMO


7. (C) DAS Boyer said the U.S. was pleased that Spain had
committed to take two Guantanamo detainees, with the
discretion to take possibly up to five, and inquired into the
probability of Spain's taking more. He said finding places
for Guantanamo detainees to go was very high on the U.S.
agenda and could even be discussed at the October 13 meeting
of the two presidents. Noting that he had spoken the
previous day with SE Fried, de la Pena replied that rather
than talk about numbers, the GOS from the beginning has
concentrated on the conditions for acceptance. In order to be
accepted, detainees must meet certain security requirements.
The Ministry of Interior has the mandate to make this
determination, he said, and the rest of the government cannot
pressure Interior. By agreeing to accept detainees, the GOS
is taking a risk and will have to answer to its Congress and
public opinion. No single country, he averred, is doing more
than Spain in this regard. He said he had advised SE Fried
to focus efforts on European countries that have not agreed
to accept even one detainee. In response to DAS Boyer's
question about Spain's openness to detainees from some
countries but not others, de la Pena stressed that this is a
preference but not a condition. There are some detainees
whose country of origin may pose a problem - he mentioned
Tunisia - but this could eventually be resolved. More
important, he reiterated, is the security factor: as a matter
of law, Spain cannot accept a detainee with a criminal
record. He stressed that Spain has been forthcoming and
consistent in first opposing Guantanamo but now helping the
USG accomplish its goal of shutting it down. DAS Boyer
expressed appreciation for Spain's leadership on this issue
leading into its EU Presidency.


8. (U) DAS Boyer has cleared this message.
CHACON