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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000113 SIPDIS FOR EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019 TAGS: PREL, MARR, AF, SP SUBJECT: CHARGE'S JANUARY 29, 2008, LUNCH WITH SPANISH MOD SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLICY REF: A. 08 MADRID 1281 B. BARCELONA 9 C. 08 MADRID 1280 MADRID 00000113 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Arnold A. Chacon, Reasons 1.4(b),(d). 1. (C) Summary: During a January 29 lunch, the CDA and Spanish MOD Secretary General for Policy Luis Cuesta discussed a possible MOD visit to Washington in June, Afghanistan, the bilateral Agreement on Defense Cooperation, an incident during a port call in Barcelona, Gaza arms smuggling, and so-called Guantanamo flights. End summary. MOD Visit to U.S. ----------------- 2. (C) Cuesta said MOD Carme Chacon hoped to visit Washington at the beginning of June (preferably traveling June 1 and meeting June 2 or 3) for a meeting with SECDEF. Cuesta noted Spain's interest in perhaps scheduling the next bilateral High-Level Defense Committee meeting in the U.S. in conjunction with that visit. (Note: This annual HLDC meeting alternates between the U.S. and Spain. It was held in the U.S. in 2008. End note). He mentioned Chacon might also travel to Pensacola, Florida after visiting Washington to join celebrations of the 450th anniversary of that city's founding by the Spanish. Afghanistan ----------- 3. (C) On Afghanistan, Cuesta alluded to recent press articles which suggested the U.S. was increasingly concerned about Afghan Government corruption and ineffectiveness and skeptical of President Karzai. Cuesta suggested this mirrored Spanish thinking. The CDA pressed Cuesta on what Spain might be planning to contribute in support of the Afghan elections and an increased long-term Spanish commitment to the larger allied effort. Cuesta made clear that the question of additional Spanish resources was one that would be decided personally by President Zapatero. Cuesta said a definitive Spanish position was unlikely to be articulated before the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in February. He stressed the importance of a high-level U.S. approach to Spain, suggesting the meeting FM Moratinos was seeking with Secretary Clinton could be a key opportunity. On the elections, Cuesta said Spain was looking at a financial contribution but noted that with the elections still months away, no decision was imminent. Agreement on Defense Cooperation -------------------------------- 4. (C) On the issue of Chacon's suggestion that the ADC be elevated to treaty status in the U.S. (ref a), Cuesta suggested Chacon had been cornered on the issue by the press. He said Spain appreciated the difficulties of presenting the ADC to the U.S. Senate for approval, and looked forward to receiving the definitive USG position on the matter. Without providing a comprehensive list, Cuesta repeated what he has told us before: Spain will be looking merely for "improvements" to the ADC. The examples he cited seem to concern issues arising from Spanish military presence in the U.S. (drivers' licenses, dependents' health care, etc.). Incident During Port Call in Barcelona -------------------------------------- 5. (C) During a January 22 port call in Barcelona, a civilian crewmember of the USS Mount Whitney was accosted by plain-clothes municipal police who did not adequately identify themselves and who pointed a gun at his shipmates (ref b). During his arrest, the crewmember was knocked to the ground and later received several stitches to his head. That same evening he was released without being charged. There were suggestions the incident might have been racially motivated (the crewmember was African-American). The CDA underscored the seriousness of this incident and its potential negative impact, if the GOS did not take appropriate action. shared with Cuesta a note verbal sent to the MFA January 28 requesting an explanation of the incident. Cuesta expressed shock and promised to do what he could do see that the incident was properly investigated. MADRID 00000113 002.2 OF 002 Gaza Arms Smuggling ------------------- 6. (C) Cuesta said Spain understood the importance of stopping arms smuggling into Gaza and appreciated why this was part of the Israeli bottom-line, but he doubted Spain would be in a position to contribute military forces to the effort. Nevertheless, he said Spain did want to be involved in discussions of the issue. (Note: the Spanish MFA Political Director told the CDA January 23 that Spain would attend the February 4-5 workshop in Denmark. End note.) Guantanamo Flights ------------------ 7. (C) On the long-running saga of alleged U.S. flights passing through Spain carrying detainees to Guantanamo (ref c), Cuesta said the judge hearing a related case in the Spanish National Court was a "good man and serious professional." Cuesta said the GOS regarded the issue as a sideshow and hoped that with the news that the new U.S. Administration planned to close the detention facility, the story would eventually die away. In any case, the GOS would stick to its position that the U.S. had not broken any laws in Spain and had complied with relevant bilateral agreements. Comment ------- 8. (C) Cuesta's assertion that any additional Spanish effort in Afghanistan will be personally approved by Zapatero is doubtless correct (the matter is too controversial domestically for anyone else to take responsibility). Senior GOS officials have repeatedly said Afghanistan requires a new strategy. It will be important to them to be able to say to their voters that the GOS has been consulted and its views have been heard. Having a senior USG official reach out to them on Afghanistan is important. In the meantime, engaging the Spanish Ambassador in Washington would be useful. He is well-connected here. On the ADC, this is not the first time Cuesta has seemed to downplay the MOD's suggestion that the U.S. should elevate the agreement to the status of a Senate-approved treaty. Although he described her comments as resulting from a press encounter gone wrong, in fact she repeated her statements to congress and in private with Ambassador Aguirre, who undertook to provide her with a definitive USG reaction. CHACON