SPAIN ON GOLDSTONE/UN DRAFT RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001077 SIPDIS IO/HR (PAUL KRUCHOWSKI),IO/UNP (ANDREW MORRISON),NEA/IPA (JEFFREY GIAUQUE),USUN/NY (ELLEN GERMAIN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL PTER IS KPAL SUBJECT: SPAIN ON GOLDSTONE/UN DRAFT RESOLUTION REF: A. SECSTATE 112828 ¶B. MADRID 1045 Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Poloffs delivered reftel demarche November 3 to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Subdirector General for the UN, Marcelino Cabanas; Human Rights Office Director, Juan Duarte; and Deputy Director General for the Middle East, Alberto Ucelay. In a follow-up conversation with Duarte and Desk Officer for the UN and Global Affairs Laura Fernandez Abad on November 4, post learned that the GOS is deeply concerned about the potential bilateral implications the UNGA resolution on Goldstone could have for Spain during its EU Presidency. The EU 27 are still struggling to come up with a common position, but at the most, we can hope for abstention. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Duarte said that there have been a number of meetings in New York to try to coordinate the EU position. However, our interlocutors believe it will be easier to reach agreement on abstention than on a "no" vote, pointing to what happened in Geneva and with Durban II. "No one can hide now," Duarte added, "and consensus amongst the 27 is critical if the EU is to have any influence." He commented that both France and the UK have been pivotal in the movement toward a common position, and that Spain will be flexible, supporting the common position should it develop. ¶3. (C) Speaking specifically to the draft resolution, Duarte opined, "It will probably pass. No one can stop the train now." He said that the key issue is that the resolution requires investigations from both the Israelis and Palestinians. While recognizing the imbalance of the report itself, the idea that both sides will be accountable is something Spain fully supports, he added. "It is an opportunity for Israel to make a statement as well, and be flexible" he said, adding that regardless, the GOS will follow the EU consensus. Duarte said that the "endorsement" v. "take note" language in the first paragraph of the resolution could be a red line issue for the EU, and that the requirement for 3-month reports to the General Assembly is a problem for some EU members. Again, Spain will be flexible in this respect, according to Duarte, but is mindful that this issue (and a potential Palestinian conference in Geneva) will bleed over into Spain's EU Presidency. CHACON