SPAIN'S SUPPORT FOR SOMALIA'S TFG

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000786 SIPDIS AF/E (MATTHEW WALSH AND PAMELA FIERST) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2019 TAGS: EAID KPKO PGOV PREL PTER SO SP SUBJECT: SPAIN'S SUPPORT FOR SOMALIA'S TFG REF: SECSTATE 79853 Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Spanish MFA Subdirector General for Sub-Saharan Africa Guillermo Lopez MacLellan on August 4. Lopez reiterated Spain's support for the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG),and said that the GOS welcomes recent TFG efforts under President Sheik Sharif to improve transparency and financial accountability. He also opined that the July GAERC conclusions demonstrate the broader EU commitment and re-engagement in an effort to encourage stability in the region. Spain's national strategy, explained Lopez, is supporting the TFG through the African Union (AU),noting that African ownership of the solution is important to its success. With this support, the GOS aims to to encourage a united government, establish Somali control of all territory, provide humanitarian assistance throughout the country, and combat piracy inland. ¶2. (C) Of Spain's $14.4 million (10 million euro) commitment to the AU over the next three years, Lopez said that $6 million would be allocated to Somalia for 2009. The funds will be used to finance an AMISOM police contingent, support the TFG police and security forces (under the direction of the UNDP, AMISOM and the Somali Minister of Interior),and fund the UN office in Nairobi in support of the Djibouti Peace Process. At least $2 million will be allocated for Somali assistance in 2010, Lopez said, adding that he thinks the number will ultimately be higher and closer to $6 million. Lopez said that channeling of future funds directly through Price Waterhouse Coopers is under consideration within the GOS. CHACON