TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY LAHOOD VIEWS SPANISH

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 MADRID 000527 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/WE:E.SAMSON, S.ZERDECKI AND EUR/ERA TRANSPORTATION FOR MARLISE STREITMATTER AND EDDIE CARAZO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELTN OVIP PGOV PREL SP SUBJECT: TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY LAHOOD VIEWS SPANISH HIGH-SPEED RAIL *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** MADRID 00000527 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- 7.(SBU) From post's and the GOS' point of view, the visit was very successful. As this was the first visit of a member of President Obama's Cabinet, it was very important to the GOS, as shown by Minister Blanco's offer of a meeting with President Zapatero, who almost never receives foreign cabinet ministers. With European parliamentary elections a week away, the GOS was eager for any favorable statements it could get from a member of the Administration, and it ensured thorough press coverage. The Secretary's statements praising the GOS and the AVE were widely reported, including leading the evening television news on May 29. The Secretary's invitation to Minister Blanco to join the delegation for an informal dinner helped strengthen our relationship with one of President Zapatero's closest political allies, who has been critical of the USG in the past. During the dinner, Zapatero called Blanco to enthuse about favorable press coverage of the visit. In addition to the political aspects of the visit, GOS officials are genuinely proud of the AVE and pleased that it is being studied by U.S. officials. They hope that U.S. interest in the AVE will lead to greater bilateral cooperation in both directions (they are interested in learning from our experience with cargo rail) as well as business opportunities for Spanish companies. CHACON