SPAIN CONTINUES TO SEEK EU CONSENSUS FOR

UNCLAS MADRID 000215 SIPDIS COURTNEY MUSSER, IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IO PHUM UNGA SP SUBJECT: SPAIN CONTINUES TO SEEK EU CONSENSUS FOR ABSTENTION ON GOLDSTONE VOTE REF: A. SECSTATE 15722 ¶B. 2009 MADRID 1077 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff conveyed reftel A points to Marcelino Cabanas, the MFA's Subdirector General for United Nations and Global Issues. Cabanas thanked Poloff for sharing what he called a "traditional view" but he indicated that Spain, during its rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, had no national position, per se, on the matter of the Goldstone Report other than to seek consensus among all EU members. He indicated Spain was still working as of February 25 on a consensus position on the Palestinian-drafted resolution to follow up on the Goldstone Report. ¶2. (SBU) MFA's Human Rights Office Director Juan Duarte clarified February 26 that EU members states had failed to reach a common position at February 22 meetings in Brussels and remained divided in three camps on the upcoming vote. Spain shares in principle U.S. concerns re potential negative fallout to the peace process (ref A),but is striving to reach a common position on the Goldstone report among 27 member states, a task Duarte described as "not easy at all." "As president of the EU," Duarte assured Poloff, Spain is "trying for consensus for abstention." Duarte was unsure of prospects for success, but ventured that a no vote from all Europeans was unrealistic. ¶3. (SBU) Most EU members are leaning toward a yes vote, reflecting their appreciation for improvements in the Palestinian text, which most would see now as "quite acceptable." The GOS views the resolution as "quite procedural." Duarte observed Spain had objected to the mention of a 5-month time period for follow-up, and that the Palestinians had eliminated it. Spain continues to pulse other EU members, but believes that the UK will vote yes and that Germany is inclined to abstain. Some countries that would not be able to vote yes will perhaps abstain. Duarte conceded the distant possibility that the resolution could be adopted without no vote at all, saying Spain "would love that." ¶4. (SBU) Asked why Spain placed such emphasis on EU consensus in a UN matter, especially one as admittedly challenging as the situation in Gaza, Duarte reiterated the importance for Spain and the EU of striving for a common position on Goldstone or on any other less delicate issue, consensus among the 27 being critical if the EU were to have any influence (ref B). SOLOMONT