US embassy cable - 04MADRID2440

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002440 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, SP 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AMBASSADOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON INTERIOR 
MINISTER 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador George L. Argyros, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, paid a courtesy call 
June 24 on Minister of Interior Jose Antonio Alonso. 
Ambassador thanked Alonso for all the support Embassy has 
received on various security issues and commented on the 
outreach already made by Alonso with his U.S. counterpart 
(Alonso has spoken to DHS Secretary Ridge).  Ambassador 
encouraged continued contact between Alonso and Ridge and 
suggested Alonso visit Washington at his earliest 
convenience.  Alonso agreed a U.S. visit was a good idea and 
suggested perhaps late September or early October would be a 
good time for the trip.  Alonso also said he was happy with 
the cooperation his ministry has had with U.S. Embassy 
offices and said the change in government should not affect 
those excellent relationships.  In fact, he hoped they would 
grow stronger, especially in the area of counter-terrorism. 
 
2.  (C) Ambassador raised the upcoming visit of the Visa 
Waiver Program team with Alonso.  Ambassador explained the 
team would visit to review Spain's continued eligibility to 
participate in the visa waiver program and asked that all 
elements within the Ministry of Interior cooperate with the 
team.  Alonso said he would ensure his ministry was helpful 
and forthcoming with the team. 
 
3.  (C) Ambassador asked Alonso for his latest thinking on 
the National Counter-terrorism Coordination Center that Spain 
is considering establishing.  Alonso stated it would start 
out as an analysis and risk evaluation organization and 
eventually the future center would change to produce 
strategic plans and perhaps be more operational.  Alonso said 
Spain was not the only country looking at this concept -- 
other countries in the EU were also doing the same, and in 
fact High Representative Solana had presented a plan in the 
EU.  Spain's concept is to implement the new center 
gradually.  It will likely start out small with about 40 
staff. 
 
4.  (C) Ambassador asked Alonso about the challenge the GOS 
faces trying to foster greater coordination between the 
Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard.  Alonso said 
coordination problems were a concern but were not unique to 
Spain.  Both police entities have closed cultures which are 
hard to change.  Getting them to share databases is the first 
step. 
 
5.  (C) Alonso mentioned the GOS is trying to get a handle on 
Islamic terrorism in Spain.  He said there is a lack of 
information and analysis relating to the problem, not only in 
Spain but also in the EU.  In spite of having millions of 
Muslims living in the EU, Europeans know very little about 
them. 
 
6.  (C) Ambassador reviewed all the law enforcement 
representatives present at post and offered any assistance 
Spanish authorities needed on counter-terrorism, security or 
any other matter.  Alonso proposed that representatives of 
the various agencies meet at the technical level on a 
frequent basis and discuss specific agenda items.  Ambassador 
informed Alonso him we were in the process of doing just that 
and an early July meeting had been scheduled where DCM and 
Director General for Security Camacho would bring together 
the appropriate staff members and meet. 
 
7. (C) Ambassador asked Alonso whether the GOS was 
considering amendments to Spain's criminal laws that would 
allow suspects be detained until more information was 
obtained.  Alonso, who is a former judge, responded it was 
not a matter of the law needing reform.  Under the Spanish 
system the judges own the investigation and they see each 
individual case on its own merit rather than seeing the case 
as part of the overall terrorism conflict.  Rather, he said, 
the GOS was using administrative deportation procedures to 
get rid of problematic suspects.  Laws will not be reformed 
in his view -- they are harsh enough.  The GOS is, however, 
looking at easing wiretap requirements so they are similar to 
French norms.  In Spain, police currently must have 
permission from judges before they can perform wiretaps. 
Alonso said he did not know if public opinion would accept a 
change in this practice. 
 
8.  (C) The Ambassador urged the GOS should continue its 
strong efforts to tighten laws on terrorism financing.  Great 
progress has been made but more work needs to be done to 
refine the laws.  Alonso agreed and said the GOS understood 
the important link between curbing terrorism financing and 
stopping terrorism.  He noted that the Basque terrorist group 
ETA has become much weaker as a result of losing a lot of its 
financial support. 
 
ARGYROS