SPANISH MINISTER OF INTERIOR ON TFTP AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000173

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/WE, ALSO FOR S/GC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2020
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPANISH MINISTER OF INTERIOR ON TFTP AND
GUANTANAMO DETAINEES

Classified By: Ambassador Alan D. Solomont, Reasons 1.4(b),(d).


1. (C) The Ambassador spoke February 11, 2010, with Spanish
Minister of Interior Rubalcaba about the defeat of the TFTP
interim agreement in the European Parliament. Rubalcaba, who
spoke to the parliament February 10 in an effort to save the
interim agreement, twice described the parliamentarians to
the Ambassador as "insane." He said scores of
parliamentarians spoke about "my data," "my privacy," or "my
money" but no one spoke about "my security." Rubalcaba said
privacy concerns certainly played their part in the negative
outcome, but he also pointed to the parliament's desire to
assert its news powers under the Lisbon treaty, regardless of
the cost.


2. (C) Rubalcaba stressed that the interim agreement was a
good one and that the cooperation it facilitated was very
important to European security. He said the GOS and he
personally want to collaborate with the U.S. on where we go
from here. He mentioned he had already spoken to the EU
Commissioner for Home Affairs about how to restart the
process and get to a successful outcome. Rubalcaba
emphasized the importance of getting an agreement in place.
(After the vote President Zapatero told the press it was
essential to get a new agreement because of its importance in
the fight against terrorism.)


3. (C) The Ambassador also thanked Rubalcaba for Spain's
willingness to accept a Palestinian detainee from Guantanamo
(arrangements for his transfer are in the final stages). The
Ambassador pressed Rubalcaba on the question of the Yemeni
Spain had earlier agreed to take. Rubalcaba told the
Ambassador Spain would be ready to move on the Yemeni next
month. The Ambassador asked how Spain's review of three
additional files was proceeding, and Rubalcaba said the
Spanish interagency was still studying the files and would
have an answer in "a few weeks."


4. (C) Comment: In the runup to the TFTP vote, the
Ambassador spoke with the Secretary General of the
Presidency, the First Vice-President, and Rubalcaba,
stressing in each case the importance of the interim
agreement. Rubalcaba's frustration at being unable to
persuade the European Parliament to focus on security was
palpable. He seemed equally serious about working with the
U.S. to find a way forward. Washington policymakers might
want to consider how Spain can help as we move ahead.
SOLOMONT