SPAIN'S VIEWS ON JANUARY 25 FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000064 SIPDIS FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020 TAGS: PREL SP SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS ON JANUARY 25 FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL REF: MADRID 59 Classified By: Political Counselor William H. Duncan, Reasons 1.4(b),(d ). ¶1. (C) Polcouns delivered the FAC points January 22 to Spanish MFA Sub-DG for Foreign Policy and Common Security Ricardo Lopez Aranda. On Yemen, Lopez said the problem clearly required a global approach. Referring to A/S Gordon's January 15 meeting with the EU-27 Political Directors at La Granja (septel),Lopez said Spain agreed on the need to bolster the government; the trick was to help Yemen improve security without taking over responsibility for Yemen's security. Lopez described the London meeting as a timely and useful initiative for the international community and for Yemen. He hoped the meeting would result in concrete steps to help stabilize the country. ¶2. (C) On Iran, Lopez noted the convergence of views demonstrated during U/S Burns' January 15 meeting with the EU Political Directors in La Granja (reftel). He said no formal conclusions were expected from this FAC, but the political message would be one of concern over the lack of progress Iran has made. He also said the EU was engaging the Iranians on human rights in Teheran and in EU capitals (the Iranian Ambassador in Spain was supposed to be called in that afternoon). Among other concerns was the plight of French and American nationals detained in Iran. ¶3. (C) On Bosnia, Lopez said the FAC might adopt conclusions on the future mandate of EUFOR (possibly to provide for capacity building and training support) and would discuss the future of EU relations with Bosnia (see septel for a report of DAS Jones' January 13 consultations with the Spanish on the Balkans). On Serbia, Lopez noted the recent conversations with A/S Gordon had been very good. Lopez said Spain shares U.S. views on Somalia. He hoped the FAC would provide the "visto bueno" for the CSDP training mission there (which Spain has already volunteered to lead). Noting that Somalia was another case that needed a global, not just a security, solution, Lopez said FM Moratinos would propose an international conference on the subject under UN (he underscored UN) auspices. ¶4. (C) On Afghanistan, Lopez said Spain would champion the EU action plan during its Presidency and was strongly supportive of the notion of having a single EU representative to Afghanistan. Lopez said Ukraine was no longer on the agenda (the rationale was to wait until after the February elections). He noted there would also be a discussion with OSCE Chair Kazakhstan and a political dialogue with Cape Verde. SOLOMONT