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