SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON SPANISH METAL MERCHANT

S E C R E T MADRID 000087 SIPDIS PASS TO ISN/MTR'S JOHN PAUL HERRMANN PASS TO EUR/WE'S ELAINE SAMSON AND STACIE ZERDECKI PASS TO EUR/PRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2034 TAGS: MTCR PARM PREL ETTC MNUC TSPA SP SY SUBJECT: SPAIN RECEIVES DEMARCHE ON SPANISH METAL MERCHANT SUPPLIES SYRIAN ENTITIES OF PROLIFERATION CONCERN REF: SECSTATE 04134 Classified By: ADCM William H. Duncan for reasons 1.4 (b),(c) and (d). ¶1. (S) POLOFF and Deputy ECON Counselor on January 26 delivered REFTEL non-paper and talking points to Carlos Torres, Counselor for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament in the MFA,s DG for Strategic Affairs & Terrorism. Torres said that he was not familiar with this particular case, but he would make sure that the Spanish inter-agency group received a copy. Torres also commented that many Spanish companies that the GOS questions about their exports that have potential dual-use technologies, such as steel and aluminum alloys in this case, are unaware of the potential consequences of their actions and are simply looking to find new buyers. Torres also remarked that, over the past year, the GOS has been increasingly seeing Syria involved in a number of questionable non-proliferation issues but pointed out that politically the GOS retains good relations with Syria. ¶2. (C) POLOFF had tried to also deliver the demarche and non-paper to the Embassy's contacts at the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce (MITyC) as had been Embassy practice for some time. Our MITyC contact this time resisted our request and suggested that when the Embassy wishes to discuss with the GOS its concerns related to Spanish companies and non-proliferation issues, we should contact the office of Mr. Gonzalo Salazar, Deputy Director General of the MFA's Office of Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. CHACON