(U) DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG'S DECEMBER 14,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 129193

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: OVIP STEINBERG JAMES PNAT PREL KDEM ZL HR BK KVPR MK
YI, SP
SUBJECT: (U) DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG'S DECEMBER 14,
2009 MEETING WITH SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS


1. Classified by EUR Assistant Secretary Philip H. Gordon.
For Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


2. (U) December 14, 2009; 11:00am; Washington, DC.


3. (U) Participants:

U.S.
Deputy Secretary Steinberg
EUR DAS Stuart Jones
D Staff Alexandra McKnight
Stacie Zerdecki (EUR Notetaker)

Spain
Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos
Director General for EU Affairs Miguel Angel Navarro
Director General for North America and non-EU Europe
Fernandez de la Pena
Ambassador Jorge Dezcallar
Deputy Press Director Aranzazu Banon



4. (C) SUMMARY. FM Moratinos requested the meeting with
Deputy Secretary Steinberg to discuss the situation in the
Western Balkans. He confirmed Spain,s support of the Butmir
process and asked for a U.S. blessing on an early-February
proposed gathering in Madrid of Bosnian and regional leaders.
Moratinos also commented on Spain,s role as EU President in
the first half of 2010 during a transition to a new framework
for the EU under the Lisbon Treaty. He noted that he
expected to work well with High Representative Ashton and
that Spain would take a non-obstructionist stance on Kosovo
during its Presidency. The Deputy Secretary stressed the
importance of the Bosnian parties negotiating in Sarajevo and
U.S. commitment to Serbian integration into Euro-Atlantic
structures. END SUMMARY.

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Bosnia
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5. (C) FM Moratinos opened the meeting with an overview of
his perspective of the Western Balkans. With regards to
Bosnia and Herzegovina, he indicated that Spain wants to
follow up on the Butmir process and promised to coordinate
closely with the United States. He also noted his plans to
convene a meeting among Bosnian and regional leaders in
Madrid in early February to bring them to an agreement on
needed reforms. On Bosnia and broader foreign policy issues,
Moratinos noted he had had a &very positive8 meeting on
12/3 with EU High Representative Ashton and believes the two
will work productively together during Spain,s 2010 EU
Presidency. He commented that Ashton is &clever enough to
trust me and my team.8


6. (C) Moratinos asked for U.S. blessing of his plan for a
one-week retreat for Bosnian leaders in Madrid in early
February. The Deputy Secretary suggested it would be more
productive for Bosnian leaders to negotiate a resolution in
Sarajevo. Bringing politicians far from their electorate
could cause them to be overly cautious. The Deputy Secretary
also cautioned that the parties were still pretty far apart
in their positions on the Butmir texts and pushing them
together prematurely risked highlighting their differences.
He urged Moratinos to ensure that the parties could indeed
reach agreement before he convened the meeting. A large high
profile meeting outside the region which failed risks
undermining reform in general. If the parties cannot agree
on the current texts early in 2010 it would be better to
leave a solid package on the table with which they can
restart after the October elections. The Deputy Secretary
explained that there are three leaders who have not accepted
the currents texts: Haris Silajdzic, Milorad Dodik and
Zlatko Lagumdzija. It is unlikely that Silajdzic would agree
to any text; Dodik has made noises about wanting to reach
agreement but has not engaged on specifics. Lagumdzija has
fully rejected the package. The Deputy Secretary urged
Moratinos to try to persuade Lagumdzija to adopt a more
constructive posture towards the process ) the sooner the
better. Moratinos agreed to follow up with Lagumdzija
immediately. He asked the Deputy Secretary to send his
Bosnia experts to Madrid early in the New Year being our
collaboration.

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Macedonia
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7. (C) During a recent meeting between FM Moratinos and
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Papandreou indicated
that he was ready to move forward on the name issue with
Macedonia. The Deputy Secretary noted that he had heard
similar reports and that PM Papandreou needs to act quickly.
He also suggested that Greek PM Papandreou and Macedonian PM
Gruevski should deal with one another directly; an
interlocutor would not be useful. He hoped that each side
would gain confidence in the situation as small steps are
made. The Deputy Secretary underscored that the EU will need
to stand firm behind whatever decision is made on the name
issue.

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Kosovo
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8. (C) The Deputy Secretary made clear that there is no
going back on Kosovar independence. Moratinos assured the
Deputy Secretary that Spain would not take an obstructionist
position on Kosovo during its EU Presidency in 2010.
Moratinos is cognizant that the majority of EU member states
have recognized independence, and promised that Spain will
represent the Union as a whole. Moratinos underscored that
he wants Kosovo to be a pro-Western ally.

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Croatia
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9. (C) Moratinos stated that during Spain,s EU Presidency,
he expects an institutional push for negotiations with
Croatia to join the European Union and a final offer of
membership. He also recommends that Croatia be held up as a
success story for other Western Balkan countries to use as a
model for progress, perhaps at a high-level meeting of Balkan
leaders in May to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the
Zagreb conference (which confirmed the EU,s commitment to
the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU.)
CLINTON