SPAIN: SENATOR MEL MARTINEZ MEETINGS WITH DEPUTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 MADRID 000393 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, L/LEI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2019 TAGS: MOPS OREP PGOV PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: SENATOR MEL MARTINEZ MEETINGS WITH DEPUTY FM LOSSADA AND MOD SECGEN CUESTA REF: A. (A) MADRID 383 ¶B. (B) MADRID 392 MADRID 00000393 001.2 OF 004 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Arnold Chacon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Senator Martinez met with Acting Foreign Minister Angel Lossada and MOD Secretary General of Defense Policy Luis Cuesta on Wednesday, April 15. Interlocutors confirmed Spain's plan to send a 450-member battalion to help support the Afghan August elections, contribute 5 million euros to elections funding, contribute a one-time four million payment to the ANA trust fund, and send 40 Guardia Civil to assist with police training, along with other types of assistance. Lossada said that Spain was still exploring the legal questions to determine what was possible under Spanish law with regard to transfer of Camp X-Ray detainees. With regard to the Spanish National Court's universal jurisdiction case against six former U.S. officials, Lossada said that the GOS advised through its Attorney General that it did not support the proceedings, but that given the independence of the court, the executive branch could not close the case. Cuesta said that Spain was developing specific proposals for adjustments to the U.S.-Spain Agreement on Defense Cooperation (ADC) to be discussed during high-level talks on the margins of Defense Minister Chacon's meeting with Secretary Gates in June. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Senator Mel Martinez, accompanied by Charge and Poloff, met with Acting Foreign Minister Angel Lossada and MOD Secretary General of Defense Policy Luis Cuesta on Wednesday, April 15. With Deputy FM Lossada, Martinez discussed his work to ensure the continuing progress of the U.S.-Spain Council and increase the participation level. -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶3. (C) Asked about Spain's renewed commitment to Afghanistan, Lossada said that Spain recognized the importance of the international community pulling together in a multilateral effort. Stressing that Afghan "ownership" of solutions was the key to future stability, Lossada said that backsliding on security gains was a real concern. He said that Spain believed it was critically important that Afghan public opinion evolve to a different perception of international involvement. According to Lossada, more effort needed to go into community liaison with localities and village administrators to counter perceptions that foreign troops were "invaders" imposing their will. To that end, Spain would emphasize development cooperation and shared ideas that linked civilian-military-economic-social development goals in combination. Recognizing that the August elections were essential to achieve credible political representation, Lossada said that Spain would send a battalion of 450 troops for the elections period. He also said that Spain would send 40 Guardia Civil, noting that Spain believed the police training should focus on rural areas. Lossada confirmed that Spain would contribute 5 million euros for the Afghan elections and 4 million euros for the ANA trust fund. Lossada said Spain would also provide agricultural support for Afghanistan, with an emphasis on crop substitution. ¶4. (C) Cuesta confirmed the details shared by Lossada. He also said the Spanish were impressed by the explanation of the U.S. strategy review at the Strasbourg Summit, noting that Spain had pressed for many of the points during the last three years -- "Afghanization", more comprehensive plans focused on sustainable development, better coordination among the international community and more involvement by the neighbors. Spain had appointed a Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Rafael Mendivil Peydro, as Ambassador Holbrooke's counterpart. Cuesta specifically called for strong "political" control of NATO operations to ensure that, "military operations don't destroy the good will of the local population and derail our ultimate strategic goals." He also said that Spain would work with allies to set achievable targets, adding that it was important to MADRID 00000393 002.2 OF 004 involve Iran. Cuesta said that Iran's interest in narcotics interdictions created an opportunity for cooperation. He believed Iran might consider allowing NATO to transfer forces or equipment across Iranian territory and it was ready to be, "part of the solution rather than part of the problem." Senator Martinez agreed that the situation in Pakistan was problematic and a comprehensive approach offered the best chance of success. He emphasized that the allies needed to be realistic about the need to ensure a long-term security presence to support Afghan development, adding that "everyone needs to contribute generously to the combined effort." -------------- UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION CASE AGAINST U.S OFFICIALS -------------- ¶5. (C) Senator Martinez and Charge conveyed our deep concern over a universal jurisdiction case in which a Spanish NGO requested that the Spanish National Court indict six Bush Administration officials for creating a legal framework that allegedly permitted torture. Martinez noted that the prosecutions would neither be understood nor accepted in the U.S. and would have an enormous impact on the bilateral relationship. Martinez also asked if the Spanish government had thoroughly considered the source of the material on which the allegations were based to ensure the charges were not based on misinformation or factually wrong statements. Lossada said that, as he discussed with Deputy Secretary Steinberg during their April 7 meeting, President Zapatero was focused on intensified cooperation with the U.S. Moreover, Zapatero envisioned a close, personal relationship with President Obama in the future. Lossada explained that the National Court had broad jurisdiction for universal justice and that there was no political influence on the judicial process. The only input from the Zapatero administration was to have the Attorney General advise the courts of the government position. While the government was not supportive of the universal jurisdiction case, it had no authority, the final decision rested with the presiding judge. ¶6. (C) Lossada noted that many countries including Rwanda, China, Argentina, El Salvador, Israel and Guatemala had faced similar investigations. Asked by the Charge about comments reportedly made to the Israelis that the Spanish government planned to curtail via legislation universal jurisdiction, Lossada said that a change was "being reflected upon," but that there was no immediate action planned -- a broad range of Spanish interests were involved and the consensus-building process would take much time. Senator Martinez noted that the case appeared to be politically motivated, as well as built on inaccuracies and misinformation; where were the checks and balances of Spanish governance to ensure that one judge could not express personal opinion through the judicial process? Lossada responded that the GOS recognized all of the complications presented by universal jurisdiction, but that the independence of the judiciary and the process must be respected. The GOS would use all appropriate legal tools in the matter. While it didn't have much margin to operate, it would advise the Attorney General that the official administration position was that the GOS was "not in accord with the National Court." He reiterated that the executive branch of government could not close any judicial investigation. Lossada urged that this case not affect the overall relationship, adding that our interests were much broader, and that the universal jurisdiction case should not be viewed as a reflection of the GOS position. NOTE: During an April 16 public address, Spanish Attorney General Conde-Pumpido said that his office would not support the judicial action. See reftel B for more details. END NOTE. -------------- CAMP X-RAY DETAINEE TRANSFERS -------------- ¶7. (U) Thanking Lossada for Spain's willingness to consider the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo's Camp X-Ray, Martinez asked about next steps. Lossada said that Spain was MADRID 00000393 003.2 OF 004 exploring the legal questions to determine what was possible under Spanish law. Pursuant to Lossada's meeting with Deputy Secretary Steinberg when Lossada seemed unclear about specific provisions, Charge shared another copy of information provided to EU officials detailing answers to 18 questions about detainee transfer and release. -------------- MILITARY COOPERATION -------------- ¶8. (C) Secretary General of Defense Policy Cuesta expressed satisfaction with "excellent overall military relations" noting that Spain had steadfastly supported U.S. operations in Spain since 1953. Cuesta suggested that the U.S. benefitted rather more than Spain from the bilateral Agreement on Defense Cooperation (ADC) given the heavy use the U.S. made of Spanish bases at Rota and Moron, but noted this could be balanced by other polQcal factors. He expressed some doubt as to whether the benefits of the ADC to the U.S. were fully appreciated in the U.S. and noted that Spain was developing specific proposals for minor adjustments to the ADC to be discussed during high-level talks on the margins of Defense Minister Chacon's meeting with Secretary Gates in June. Senator Martinez said he would be sure to highlight Spain's contributions to his colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee and that there was no U.S. intention to overlook Spain's importance -- perhaps the overall smooth functioning of the relationship meant that defense cooperation might not be front page news, but it was never taken for granted. Martinez also told Cuesta that he hoped to see Defense Minister Chacon when she visited Washington and that if she was interested, he could organize a meeting with his Senate colleagues. ¶9. (C) Cuesta also told Martinez that Spain wanted to ensure that the U.S. maintained full transparency in the U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tanker procurement process. Senator Martinez said there had been tremendous oversight to ensure transparency and that decisions would be driven by cost and price. He also noted that the DOD procurement process was being revised and that Cuesta could expect a refueling tanker solution in the next few months. He also noted that a new litoral combat ship under consideration might be an asset adaptable to asymmetrical threats encountered by the Spanish and other allies. -------------- MISSILE DEFENSE -------------- 10 (C) When Senator Martinez asked his views on missile defense, Cuesta said that Spain viewed NATO security as indivisible, but that defense systems must be coordinated in a transparent manner with Russia, despite Russian recalcitrance. He also said that Spain's participation in expensive missile defense systems would need to be rationalized. The architecture of any defensive shield would need the flexibility that some nations could contribute with existing resources or means other than financial inputs. Citing Poland and the Czech Republic as examples, Cuesta said that any new NATO members would need to be security providers since, "we don't need to import any more problems," According to Cuesta, "the Cold War is over and those countries are still fighting over old Cold War issues." Martinez noted that proliferation concerns go beyond the interests of any one country and that Russian ambitions and attempts to maintain old spheres of influence were a continuing threat- as evidenced by Georgia. Russia was dragging the past into the future through aggression. -------------- CUBA -------------- ¶11. (C) Lossada was interested in Senator Martinez' review of recent U.S. policy changes regarding Cuba. Juan Carlos Sanchez, MFA Director General for IberoAmerica, who accompanied Lossada along with MFA Deputy Director General for North America Fernando Prieto, agreed that in Cuba, there MADRID 00000393 004.2 OF 004 were no clear prospects for near term change. He said that Spain would continue to engage in modest cooperation projects geared at fomenting change over the long term. Senator Martinez noted that Cuba had a window of opportunity to respond in a positive manner to U.S. openings. Martinez also noted that under the new Spanish "Historic Memory Law" that allows descendants of Spanish citizens who fled during the Civil War to apply for citizenship, a significant number of Cubans would be eligible. Lossada agreed and said that yes, a large number of applications were anticipated and the GOS would work to implement the law as enacted, regardless of the numbers - an eligible citizen was an eligible citizen regardless of where they had been living most recently." ¶12. (U) Senator Martinez cleared this cable. CHACON