SPAIN NOT LIKELY TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL MAURITANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000188 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019 TAGS: EUN PREL PHUM PGOV SP MR SUBJECT: SPAIN NOT LIKELY TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL MAURITANIAN SANCTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 13962 ¶B. MADRID 177 ¶C. 08MADRID1132 Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel A demarche to Spanish MFA European Correspondent Maria Luisa Benitez-Dononso February 20, stressing the EU's opportunity to support the AU and its imposition of targeted sanctions against the military junta. Benitez-Donoso restated Spain's condemnation of the coup and desire for the restoration of democracy, but said that Spain would not likely support additional sanctions. She reiterated Spain's support for existing EU and AU sanctions and the continued withholding of EU developmental assistance, however, and made clear that with Mauritania it is not "business as usual." ¶2. (C) Comment: This approach falls in line with Spain's general approach, preferring to encourage good behavior, offering a "carrot," rather than punish the bad. Moreover, and as explained previously by other MFA officials, Spain does not want to see Mauritania, a country not far from its own territory, become a "failed state." Like Germany, Spain fears that further isolation may give way to such unintended results. Mauritania's proximity also requires bilateral cooperation on illegal immigration and counter-terrorism issues, and the GOS considers its fluid relationship with the Mauritanians vital to its own national security. CHACON