US embassy cable - 04MADRID1864

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001864 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SP, NATO 
SUBJECT: MFA'S NEW POLITICAL DIRECTOR ON AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, 
MIDDLE EAST, ICC ROLLOVER RESOLUTION 
 
REF: A. STATE 111287 
 
     B. STATE 111359 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons 
1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1.  (C)  MFA Political director Rafael Dezcallar told 
Polcouns in a May 20 meeting that Spain wanted to be helpful 
on Afghanistan but likely would have to determine whether 
resources would be available.  He indicated the GOS likely 
would not be able to meet all of the requests the USG has 
presented (ref a).  On the issue of augmenting troop presence 
in Western Afghanistan, he asked for details on the location 
and distance of the Forward Support Base from Kabul.  Per 
e-mail response from EUR/RPM, we were able to get this 
information back quickly to the MFA. (the FSB is in Herat, 
some 400 miles from Kabul in a relatively calm area).  Note: 
in a separate conversation later that day, President 
Zapatero's national security advisor Casajuana asked about 
the size/numbers required for the medical facility we had 
requested -- conversation reported septel). 
 
2.  (C)   When we reviewed our thinking on the possible 
elements of a draft Iraq UNSC resolution (ref b), Dezcallar 
asked about USG thinking on the Russian proposal for two 
conferences, one among Iraqis to endorse the new government 
and another with the participation of the international 
community.  Dezcallar also said the GOS believes any 
resolution must deal with the "before and after" sovereignty 
transfer issue, i.e., the resolution should support the 
pre-June 30 political arrangement but also outline the 
post-June 30 plan for transferring sovereignty and eventually 
holding elections.  He was pleased with the reference to a 
endorsing a political transition timetable, e.g., elections 
in January 2005.  On the element encouraging regional 
organization participation, Dezcallar expressed concern that 
a resolution specifically referring to a NATO role would 
appear to western- and even U.S.-oriented and suggested that 
resolution refer only in general to international and/or 
regional organizations. 
 
3.  (C)  As part of our continuing dialogue with the GOS over 
the past few weeks on the UNSC ICC rollover resolution, 
Dezcallar recalled his May 19 conversation with A/S Jones, 
saying that the issue remained a matter of principle for the 
GOS, and even last year the Aznar government, in voting in 
favor of the resolution, had made clear this was not to be an 
automatic annual expectation.  As have several senior MFA 
interlocutors over the past several days, Dezcallar said the 
GOS would play a positive role in helping to develop 
consensus on the resolution, and did not want to create 
complications for the US at a critical moment. 
 
4.  (C)  On the ICC rollover, Polcouns asked the GOS to look 
at this resolution as a practical measure to allow non-Rome 
Treaty participants -- particularly the U.S. -- to continue 
to perform the responsibilities the UN has asked us to 
undertake, rather than as the moment to debate the philosophy 
of the ICC.  He reaffirmed Spain very much preferred to 
abstain on the resolution, particularly if the USG has the 
votes to pass it. 
 
5.  (C)  We asked Dezcallar for his impressions of the 
back-to-back visits of Israeli FM Shalom and Palestinian PM 
Qorei, which took place at the same time A/S Burns had 
visited (to be reported septel).  Dezcallar said this is an 
extremely difficult moment in the Middle East, against the 
backdrop of the house demolitions and killings in Gaza.  He 
said the Israelis were particularly tough on the issue and 
that the Palestinians were very depressed and lacked hope. 
We noted our desire to see other leadership than Arafat, but 
Dezcallar said Arafat maintains huge symbolic significance 
for the Palestinians, particularly now, and that he must be 
taken into account.   Dezcallar urged positive gestures 
toward the Palestinians over the coming days.  Polcouns asked 
whether Qorei had acknowledged the need to stem terrorist 
violence from Hamas and others.  Dezcallar said he had, but 
that the overwhelming force used by Israel had given the 
Palestinians cover.  He expressed appreciation for the US 
abstention on the UNSC resolution on the Gaza demolitions 
just the day before. 
 
6.  (C)   Earlier that day, Polcouns had attended a speech by 
Qorei organized by a prominent Spanish think tank in 
association with the wall street journal.  When asked by the 
leader of the Jewish Community in Madrid about the same 
issue, Qorei responded that he renounced all forms of 
terrorism but accused the Israeli government of state 
terrorism against the Palestinians in Gaza.  He urged the 
Quartet to do their utmost to renew negotiations on the 
roadmap and stop Israeli demolitions and other incursions in 
the occupied territories.  He also denied that Camp David and 
Taba had offered anything concrete to the Palestinians, and 
said the portrayal that the Palestinians had rejected 
opportunities for a two-state solution were lies. 
 
8.  (C)  Dezcallar again expressed appreciation for the USG's 
strong support for the selection of Spanish Ambassador 
Ruperez to head the UN's counter-terrorism commission.  The 
GOS sees this as a very good sign, he said. 
ARGYROS