US embassy cable - 04MADRID1762

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001762 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE 
USUN FOR N. ROSTOW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SP, UNSC, KICC, American - Spanish Relations 
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S POSITION ON UNSCR 1487 ROLLOVER NOT YET 
FIXED 
 
REF: A. STATE 106487 
 
     B. MADRID 1716 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires J. Robert Manzanares, 
reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Charge delivered ref A points May 14 to Deputy 
Foreign Minister Bernardino Leon.  In addition to ref A 
points, Charge made clear that President Zapatero, Foreign 
Minister Moratinos and other high-level officials in the 
Zapatero government have stated a number of times they wish 
to maintain close relations with the U.S., and this was an 
opportunity to demonstrate that with actions that cost the 
GOS little or nothing.  Charge also stressed the USG had 
worked hard at the UN to ensure SYG Annan named Spain's 
Javier Ruperez chairman of the UN's Counter Terrorism 
Committee.  Charge also emphasized that although the MFA's UN 
affairs office had previously told embassy it believed the 
U.S. would have enough votes to prevail on the resolution 
even if Spain abstained (ref B), we did not believe that was 
the case. 
 
2.  (C) Leon replied that Spain's position on the rollover 
vote was not yet fixed, and he would take the matter up 
directly with Moratinos.  He said he understood Charge's 
message on turning words in to action and added the GOS very 
much appreciated the U.S.'s help on the Ruperez nomination. 
Leon committed to get back to us as soon as possible with 
Spain's position on the rollover. 
 
MANZANARES