AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 18, 2010, MEETING WITH SPANISH MINISTER OF INTERIOR RUBALCABA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000049



SIPDIS



FOR EUR/WE



E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020

TAGS: PREL, SP

SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 18, 2010, MEETING

WITH SPANISH MINISTER OF INTERIOR RUBALCABA



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



1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador met with Interior Minister

Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba January 18. They discussed

additional Spanish law enforcement assistance in Haiti; the

controversy surrounding the FBI,s use of a Spanish

politician,s photograph from the internet to create an image

of the bureau,s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden;

Secretary Napolitano,s upcoming visit to address an EU

informal ministerial on aviation security; Guantanamo

detainees; law enforcement cooperation, in particular

information sharing; Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb; and

Spanish training of security forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

End summary.



2. (C) The Ambassador praised Rubalacaba,s support,

coordination, and cooperation across the board on law

enforcement matters, underscoring USG appreciation and desire

to strengthen even more the already strong partnership with

Spain. The Ambassador said the USG had high expectations of

Spanish leadership in the Presidency of the EU and recognized

Rubalcaba,s preeminent and influential role in the Spanish

Government in getting things done. The Ambassador said the

USG needs Spain to be a strong partner, as the world,s

problems were too big to solve alone.



Llamazares

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3. (C) The Ambassador reiterated USG regret that Spanish

politician and congressional deputy Gaspar Llamazares, photo

had been used to create an age-processed image of Osama bin

Laden. He explained that the FBI forensic artist had

selected features from a database of stock reference

photographs to create the image and was unaware the subject

he used was a Spanish politician. He added that there was no

political or other motivation, that the similarities between

the photos (posted on the Rewards for Justice website) were

unintentional and inadvertent. Ambassador said that the

Embassy had acknowledged the error and contacted Llamazares

on January 16 who seemed satisfied with our outreach. Even

so, the FBI was looking into the process that led to the

unintended depiction and would offer a letter of explanation.

Embassy Legatt would be contacting Llamazares to set up a

meeting to clarify the matter. Rubalcaba welcomed the

Embassy actions to put the controversy to rest, noting that

Llamazares, despite his leftist leanings, was a good chap

with lots of common sense.



Haiti

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4 (C) The Ambassador briefed Rubalcaba on the devastation in

Haiti and the USG and international reaction to it. He noted

the positive role of Spanish law enforcement in Haiti and

said that Haiti would need additional EU and Spanish police

support to deal with the deteriorating security situation

there. Rubalcaba noted Spanish Vice President Fernandez de

la Vega,s recent visit to Haiti and Spain,s efforts in

Brussels to lead a coordinated, robust EU response to the

humanitarian tragedy and increasing lawlessness. He

anticipated that Spain and the EU would be asked to provide

more police assistance, and said that Spain would do its part

with additional Civil Guard elements. He lamented Venezuelan

leader Hugo Chavez,s gratuitous comments that the USG was

taking advantage of the humanitarian situation to occupy

Haiti militarily.



EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Informal Ministerial

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5. (C) The Ambassador thanked the Minister for his invitation

to DHS Secretary Napolitano to visit Toledo January 21-22 to

discuss enhanced civil aviation security cooperation. The

Ambassador thanked Rubalcaba for the excellent anti-organized

crime and counter-narcotics relationships we enjoy in Spain.

He noted the USG is interested in taking the information

sharing to the next level, not only in counter-terrorism but

also with respect to organized crime investigations.

Rubalcaba said he looked forward to discussing further with

Napolitano and the Ambassador JHA matters, both in Toledo and

at the April 9-10 JHA Ministerial meeting that Attorney

General Holder and Napolitano are slated to attend.



Guantanamo Detainees

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5. (C) The Ambassador reflected positively on Spain,s

commitment to take five detainees and urged that Spain accept

the first tranche (two detainees) as soon as possible.



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Rubalcaba said the Ministry of Interior is currently deciding

where the detainees will live and is also evaluating the case

files of additional detainees to be able to take a total of

five. He said that because of political concerns Spain would

have to delay a month receiving the Yemeni detainee, noting

public concerns in the wake of the Christmas Day Detroit

attempted terrorist incident. Spain would nonetheless

proceed with the Palestinian and another detainee quickly,

with the remaining three detainees being transferred once the

GOS completed their evaluation of the case files. Ambassador

said he wanted to be "clear and blunt" about USG expectations

of Spain following through on its commitments, adding that

this was an important opportunity for Spain to show it is a

serious leader in the EU. Rubalcaba reiterated Spain,s

commitment to help the USG, noting it had criticized the USG

for opening the Guantanamo detention facility and now was on

the hook to help the USG close it.



Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb

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6. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern for the three aid

workers who were kidnapped in Mauritania by AQIM November 29.

He said that the USG wanted to continue close cooperation in

the area, as there are terrorist and extremist threats on

many fronts. Rubalcaba expressed appreciation for continuing

USG intelligence support and cooperation. He said he had

underscored to his many interlocutors in the U.S. during his

recent visit there the importance of the Maghreb to Spain,s

national security interests and Spain,s desire for improved

cooperation in that region. In view of the weak states

there, he hoped to reach an agreement on capacity-building

during upcoming JHA meeting. He said there must be enhanced

sharing of information. Rubalcaba noted that while Spanish

and U.S. intelligence cooperation, based on shared values and

interests, is very good among the various USG agencies --

CIA, DEA, FBI -- Spain wants it to be even better. On

counter-terrorism cooperation, Rubalcaba said that Spain

agrees with President Obama that the West needs to speak with

one voice, and that being tolerant and firm are not

incompatible when dealing with Islam and Muslim extremism.

The Ambassador agreed, noting that the parallel tracks of

engagement and incentives with pressure and sanctions

vis--vis Iran was also the USG approach.



Training Security Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq

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7. (C) The Ambassador thanked Rubalcaba for Spain,s pledge

to send Civil Guard and/or National Police personnel to help

train security forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of the

NATO training missions in those countries. Rubalcaba said

that he is awaiting the report of the assessment team that

was sent to Iraq and expected to field 10-12 Civil Guard

elements, adding that Iraq was more difficult politically for

Spain than Afghanistan. He reiterated Spain,s commitment to

send at least 40 police trainers to Afghanistan.

SOLOMONT