SPAINISH PREVIEW OF APRIL GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000412

SIPDIS

EUR/ERA FOR JEFF GIAUQUE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAINISH PREVIEW OF APRIL GAERC

REF: A. 04/17/2009 GIAUQUE E-MAIL

B. MADRID 403

Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff discussed anticipated agenda items for the
April 27-28 GAERC with MFA European Correspondent Maria Luisa
Benitez-Donoso April 24. Benitez-Donoso said that Council
conclusions will be issued on Burma, Iran, and Sri Lanka,
while the Eastern Partnership, Croatia, Moldova, Ukraine, the
Middle East Peace Process (MEPP),and President Obama's April
5 Prague visit will all be items for discussion.


2. (C) Burma: Benitez-Donoso confirmed Spanish MFA
Subdirector General for the Pacific, Southeast Asia and
Philippines Jose Luis Garcia Galan's previous statements
regarding Burma (reftel),stating that the EU Common Position
would be rolled over and conclusions issued reiterating the
EU's concern for the humanitarian situation in the country.
Despite the fact that sanctions will not be eased,
Benitez-Donoso again stressed the GOS' well-known lack of
confidence in the efficacy of sanctions and indicated that
Spain is cautiously optimistic about 2010 elections. "We
look forward to the unveiling of a new U.S. policy with Burma
and hope that it will include direct dialogue with Burmese
authorities," she added.


3. (C) Iran: Benitez-Donoso said that Spain welcomes the U.S.
participation in the E3 3 process and fully supports the new
policy of engagement with Iran. The conclusions to be issued
by the Council call for Iran's commitment to serious
engagement and compliance with its international obligations.
Benitez-Donoso confirmed that there is no move at this point
to tighten sanctions, and indeed this would not be an
initiative Spain would support. She added that the GOS
thinks it important that talks continue within the UN
framework and that all should give the "open-handed" approach
the opportunity to succeed.


4. (C) Sri Lanka: The Council conclusion issued on Sri Lanka
will call for additional UN presence in the country, as well
as international organizations' presence, explained
Benitez-Donoso. She added that the EU will also call on
India to play a role in the supply of additional humanitarian
aid.


5. (C) MEPP: Benitez-Donoso said that there will be
discussion on the MEPP, and FM Moratinos is expected to
debrief the Council on his April 15-16 trip to the region and
meetings with Palestinian and Israeli authorities. (While in
the region, Moratinos met iwith Palestinian National
Authority PM Salam Fayad, Palestinian FM Riyad el Malki, PLO
peace negotiator Saeb Erekat, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu,
Vice PM and MOD Ehud Barak, and FM Avigdor Lieberman).
According to Benitez-Donoso, the GOS is interested in clearly
articulating the EU's priorities in the region: a two-state
solution, freezing of settlements in the West Bank, and
resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She added
that the GOS strongly believes that Syria has a role to play
in the process.


6. (C) Ukraine and Moldova: Benitez-Donoso explained that
there must be internal political consensus in the Ukraine
before serious engagement with the EU can ensue and that the
EU should send a serious signal to President Yushchenko and
PM Tymoshenko regarding their mismanagement of the economy
and other issues important to the country's stability.
Similarly, she said, Chisinau's government must make changes
that demonstrate a genuine respect for human rights if
Moldova wants to approach the EU.


7. (C) Eastern Partnership Summit: Benitez-Donoso opined
that Belarus President Lukashenka would not attend the
summit, but could not confirm. In any case, she said, other
countries (implying Moldova) with similar reform issues would
be present.


8. (C) Croatia: Benitez-Donoso explained that the Commission
will present different possible solutions on the bilateral
border dispute, but opined that most EU member states think
that the dispute is one that should be solved internally and
not linked with accession aspirations.
CHACON