SPAIN INTERESTED IN LEADING ROLE IN RECONFIGURED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001138 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/WMDT DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KGIC SP SUBJECT: SPAIN INTERESTED IN LEADING ROLE IN RECONFIGURED GICNT REF: SECSTATE 114723 Classified By: Acting DCM Gary Bagley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF on November 25 formally delivered REF demarche on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) to Carlos Torres, Counselor for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament within the MFA's DG for Strategic Affairs and Terrorism. Dr. Eliot Kang, DAS for Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy and Negotiations, had briefly mentioned the Reftel demarche to Torres' supervisor during a November 18 bilateral meeting at the MFA. Torres replied that if the revised Terms of Reference might involve the creation of a kind of Steering Committee with a more central role for partner nations other than the USG and Russia, then Madrid would be interested in being included. Although informed that the revised Terms of Reference document has not been finalized, he requested any kind of documentation that could be shared with Spain on this subject to build the case within the MFA and the GOS. ¶2. (U) DAS Kang has cleared this cable. CHACON