US embassy cable - 04MADRID1731

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001731 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SP, Counterterrorism, American - Spanish Relations 
SUBJECT: DCM'S MEETING WITH MFA STATE SECRETARY BERNARDINO 
LEON 
 
REF: STATE 89241 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR KATHLEEN M. FITZPATRICK FOR REASONS 
1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C)  DCM paid an initial call May 10 on MFA State 
Secretary Bernadino Leon, who said this was his first meeting 
 
SIPDIS 
with a foreign embassy since taking office.  Leon made a 
point of saying that the new government wanted to have 
excellent relations with the U.S., especially on 
counter-terrorism in light of March 11.  He said Spain likely 
would increase its Euro corps presence in Afghanistan and he 
expressed optimism that Spain would agree to a Provincial 
Reconstruction Team (PRT) (but said the decision was still 
pending at MOD).  DCM mentioned our desire for 500-800 more 
troops; Leon demurred on numbers, saying likely would not be 
that high, and the exact count had not yet been determined. 
 
2. (C)  Leon also said Spain was considering sending a 
Guardia Civil/police contingent to Haiti to help train the 
police and contribute to democratization there.  He said MFA 
felt that would be Spain's most useful contribution, rather 
than peacekeeping forces.  He also offered Spain's help on 
economic issues in the lead up to the US-EU summit. 
 
3. (C)  DCM noted our desire, now that we have expressed our 
disappointment on the Iraq troop withdrawal decision, to move 
forward to continue our excellent relations with Spain under 
the new government.  DCM said U.S. would welcome support in 
the EU on counter-terrorism issues such as Passenger Name 
recognition and terrorist financing.  DCM also noted that he 
thought that positive steps on Afghanistan, along the lines 
Leon foreshadowed, would likely be very well received in 
Washington. 
 
4. (C)  Noting that Iran was another area of cooperation 
between the US and Spain, with Spain chair of the IAEA board 
of governors, DCM said our experts on Iran were ready and 
willing to come to Madrid to brief the new government.  Leon 
said Zapatero specifically wanted to maintain the good ties 
that Aznar had with Khattami, saying that Spain could be 
useful in this regard. 
 
5. (C)  On Iraq/UNSC resolution, Leon reconfirmed that Spain 
was not pursuing a parallel draft with France and Germany, 
but noted Spain could be helpful with these two countries as 
discussion progressed, as well as with the Latin Americans 
now on the UNSC (Chile and Mexico). He averred that Spain 
would adopt a "completely cooperative" approach on this issue. 
 
6. (C)  Leon noted his personal affinity with the U.S.  He 
said his grandmother was an American citizen (from Baltimore, 
of a shipping family called Bevan, sent to Malaga on business 
and remained in Spain).  Also present at the meeting was 
Rafael Descaller who essentially will have the number three 
post at the MFA.  Descaller mentioned his very favorable 
experience as a Fullbright scholar at Stanford.  Descallar 
also mentioned Latin America as another are of common 
U.S.-Spanish interest.  Leon agreed that he and DCM should 
maintain a regular dialogue and open lines of communication. 
 
7. (C)  DCM also took the opportunity to ask about Spain's 
plans regarding its Embassy in Iraq after June 30 (reftel). 
Leon replied that the GOS might consider elevating the 
Spanish Charge to the rank of Ambassador.  Leon said he would 
take this under consideration. 
 
8. (C)  At the close of the meeting, Leon noted that 
difficult issues like the Couso case (the Spanish cameraman 
killed during gunfire in the Palestine Hotel incident last 
year and a major cause celebre here), would have to be dealt 
with but could wait until an appropriate time.  He reiterated 
his desire for open contacts and said he wanted to invite DCM 
to lunch in the near future. 
 
9. (C)  Comment:  Leon's professed desire for good relations 
with the U.S. echoes sentiments we have heard from many in 
the new government -- and also parallels the lack of specific 
details on concrete cooperation. 
MANZANARES