AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 9, 2010, MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000020

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/WE, ALSO FOR WHA/CEN, NEA/IPA, AND S/GC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2020
TAGS: PREL AF HO IR IS SP WI
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 9, 2010, MEETING
WITH SPANISH FM MORATINOS

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


1. (C) Summary: Shortly after his arrival January 9, the
Ambassador went to the MFA to present copies of his
credentials. Unexpectedly, he was received personally by FM
Moratinos. Moratinos conveyed King Juan Carlos' greetings
and said the King was anxious to meet the Ambassador. A
credentials ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for
January 27, an unusual step since the Palace would normally
not hold another such ceremony until the spring. The
Ambassador and Moratinos discussed Honduras, the Middle East,
North Africa, Iran, Afghanistan, Guantanamo detainees, and
the bilateral relationship. End summary.

Honduras
--------------


2. (C) Moratinos briefed the Ambassador on a January 7 visit
to Madrid by Honduran envoy (and former Honduran President)
Ricardo Maduro for consultations on a way forward. Moratinos
said Spain supported WHA PDAS Kelly's efforts to promote a
dignified exit by President Zelaya from the Brazilian embassy
in Tegucigalpa. He said the international community needed
to keep up the pressure on the de facto government. He said
the Spanish had discussed with Maduro reconciliation
formulas. Spain, Moratinos said, wanted President-elect Lobo
to succeed, but Micheletti continued to maintain a hard line
and block progress. He emphasized the need to find a way out
of the impasse.

Middle East
--------------


3. (C) Moratinos noted the Ambassador's previous personal and
professional work in promoting Middle East peace. He said
Spain continued to work for a breakthrough and said he was
not pessimistic. He said the USG approach of trying to
accommodate the concerns of both sides was the right way to
proceed. He added that while the Israelis were difficult, it
was understandable that Israel wanted sustainable measures
and progress. Moratinos said he enjoyed positive relations
with actors on both sides. He said he had a good
relationship with PM Netan
yahu and his diplomatic advisor who, along with the other key
players, trusted him completely. Moratinos said that while
some considered President Zapatero pro-Palestinian, Zapatero
had enjoyed a productive visit to Israel in the fall and had
gotten on very well with Netanyahu. Moratinos said Spain
knew Netanyahu wanted to move forward on a peace agreement.
Ironically, Moratinos had to reassure the Palestinians that
Spain was not tilting toward the Israelis. He urged that the
USG use Spain and Moratinos personally as necessary on Middle
East issues, not only given Spain's incumbency in the EU
Presidency but also taking into account Moratinos' personal
experience in the Middle East. "I am at your disposal" he
emphasized.


4. (C) The Ambassador said he had recently discussed the
Middle East with SE Mitchell, who emphasized it was critical
to make the Palestinians understand the importance of
returning to the bargaining table. On key issues such as
Jerusalem final status, there needed to be negotiations. He
added that SE Mitchell intended to urge Moratinos during
their upcoming meeting in Brussels to encourage the
Palestinians to return to negotiations. The Ambassador
looked forward to engaging Moratinos on the Middle East,
noting he was very familiar with the issues and the key
experts and players, including former Ambassadors Indyk and
Kurtzer.

North Africa
--------------


5. (C) Moratinos said the U.S. and Spain should work closely
together in North Africa, noting the recent successful
resolution of the case involving Western Sahara activist
Aminatou Haidar was the result of joint collaboration among
France, Spain, and the U.S. Moratinos hoped Secretary
Clinton would find time on the margins of upcoming
international meetings (e.g., the London conference on
Afghanistan) for a short meeting with Spain to discuss Al
Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). He noted Yemen was
another key focus for Spain's EU Presidency and that there
was a January 25 meeting on Yemen.

Iran
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador noted the upcoming visit of U/S Burns

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to discuss Iran and other issues with EU Political Directors
meeting in Spain. Moratinos pledged to free up his calendar
as necessary (even leaving a scheduled cabinet meeting) to
meet with U/S Burns. He accepted the Ambassador's invitation
for lunch with U/S Burns January 15.

Afghanistan and Guantanamo
--------------


7. (C) Moratinos reaffirmed the GOS commitment to help the
USG. He reiterated Spain's pledge to take in Guantanamo
detainees. He said the Ministry of Interior understandably
had serious security concerns about many of the detainee
cases but said he had been instrumental in getting them to
review a new slate of candidates. He said he was in close
discussions with SYG of the Presidency Bernardino Leon on
this matter, indicating the two worked well and closely
together and that there was no daylight between the Spanish
Presidency and the MFA. The Ambassador urged Moratinos to
move expeditiously on Spain's Guantanamo commitment.

Bilateral Relationship
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador thanked Moratinos for seeing him on his
first day in the country and noted Secretary Clinton held
Moratinos in high regard. He said the USG and he in
particular looked forward to close consultations with Spain
and with Moratinos personally. The Ambassador mentioned NSA
Jones' belief that Spain had made extraordinary efforts over
the last year to improve the U.S.-Spain partnership, noting
that as Ambassador he would work to enhance that cooperation.
Moratinos said he was personally committed to making the
relationship the very best. He said Spain was not perfect
but urged that if at any moment the Ambassador considered
Spain was not behaving in an appropriate fashion, he hoped
the Ambassador would tell him so frankly and would flag the
most important issues. Moratinos said there should be no
hidden agendas between friends and that Spain wanted to
identify areas of common work. Moratinos expressed
confidence that smooth and positive relations would continue.
The Ambassador said that Washington appreciated Spain's
views, and he assured Moratinos he would take him up on his
request for honest, blunt, and candid feedback.
SOLOMONT