US embassy cable - 04MADRID2659

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002659 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MO, WI, SU, SP, USUN 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: NEW "APPROACH" ON WESTERN SAHARA; VIEWS ON 
ICJ RULING; SUPPORT FOR US EFFORT IN SUDAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 150763 
 
     B. STATE 152014 
 
Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor. 
Reasons: 1.4 B/D 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C)  The GOS is pursuing a new "approach" to resolve 
the crisis in the Western Sahara but its elements remain 
unclear, according to the newly appointed MFA Director 
General for the Mediterranean, Near East, and Africa, 
Alvaro Iranzo.  The Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister is 
in the process of discussing the new approach with parties 
in the region, and with France, and would like to share 
his view with senior NEA officials.  Iranzo was non- 
committal on the UNGA resolution on the ICJ.  Subsequent 
discussions with the MFA indicate that FM Moratinos, 
who has been in Brussels, has not yet decided on the 
issue. On Sudan, the GOS is likely to support a 
strong UNSC resolution and an EU statement on the 
Darfur crisis.  End Summary. 
 
 
2. (C)  PolCouns met July 12 with newly appointed Director 
General of Foreign Policy for the Mediterranean, Near East, 
and Africa Alvaro Iranzo Gutierrez to exchange views on the 
Western Sahara, the ICJ ruling, and Spain's Africa policy. 
Iranzo has considerable experience in Africa and the Middle 
East.  He served in Gabon (1981), Mozambique (1983), and 
Algeria (1989).  In 1992, he was a deputy director of 
Bureau of North African affairs under current Foreign 
Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who was director general 
of the bureau then.  Iranzo was an assistant to Moratinos 
when Moratinos was the EU's Special Representative to the 
Middle East Process in 1996.  Later, Iranzo was Spain's 
ambassador to Angola (1997) and Malaysia (2001) before 
assuming his current position. 
 
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Spain's Middle East Posture 
--------------------------- 
 
3. (C)  Iranzo told us that Spain will taken an active 
approach on the Middle East given FM Moratinos experience 
in the region as an EU envoy.  Spain maintains close 
relations to the Arab world, especially Morocco, and has 
good relations with Israel.  On Morocco, Iranzo noted that 
despite press reports, the GOS is not threatened by 
Morocco's Major non-NATO Ally Status and the free trade 
agreement with the U.S.  Both Spain and the U.S. are 
interested in regional stability, and "what's good for 
Morocco is good for Spain," Iranzo remarked.  He affirmed 
that despite previously tumultuous relations with Algeria, 
Spain now has good relations with Algeria  (Note: President 
Zapatero will make a one-day State visit to Algeria July 
14. End Note.)  Overall, the Arab world sees Spain, and 
especially Foreign Minister Moratinos, as a credible 
interlocutor in the Middle East Process and the Western 
Sahara, Iranzo said. 
 
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Western Sahara 
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4. (C)  Noting recent press statement by Moratinos, 
PolCouns asked whether the new Spanish government had 
adopted a new policy on the Western Sahara.  Iranzo 
responded by expressing support for the broad outline of 
the Baker Plan but said Spain is seeking a new "approach" 
to overcome the impasse over the issue of the Polisario 
referendum.  When PolCouns pressed for specific details, 
Iranzo admitted that there were no specific plans.  He said 
Spain's initiative would deal with "methodology" rather 
than final outcomes.  Iranzo also said that the new UN 
envoy for the Western Sahara, De Soto, did not have the 
stature to move the process forward.  However, according to 
Iranzo, Spain wants to be more involved in pressing for a 
solution in the Western Sahara acceptable to all parties. 
Spain wants to convince the Polisario to be more flexible, 
to persuade France and the U.S. to be more consensual, and 
to avoid a UN-imposed solution. 
 
5. (C) Iranzo acknowledged that Spain's new approach 
carries international and domestic risks.  President 
Zapatero, Minister Moratinos, and State Secretary for 
Foreign Policy Bernardino Leon have been consulting with 
France, Morocco, Algeria, and the Polisario on the Western 
Sahara issue.  Iranzo said that the GOS is concerned that 
failure in the Western Sahara would jeopardize the MINURSO 
mandate, radicalize Moroccans, and possibly increase 
illegal immigration and terrorism in Spain.  He said that 
State Secretary Leon wants to meet with senior NEA 
officials to discuss Spain's approach in the Western Sahara 
in the near future. 
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Spain and the ICJ Court Ruling 
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6. (C) PolCouns reviewed ref (a) points on the 
International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on the 
Israeli security barrier with Iranzo (meeting took place 
before the draft resolution had been put forth, and before 
the receipt of ref (b) demarche). Iranzo said that although 
Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorism, it 
also has to consider how its policies affect Palestinians 
and must listen to the international community.  The 
security barrier is being constructed in Palestinian 
territory, and the recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling may 
only change on a small portion of the barrier, Iranzo 
argued.  Nevertheless, Palestinian leadership must be held 
responsible for actions that are contrary to the Road Map. 
The ICJ ruling shows, however, that Israel has few friends 
in the world, Iranzo said. 
 
7. (C)  Iranzo did not commit to a position on the new UNGA 
resolution on the ICJ decision.  (FYI: Spain under the 
Aznar government abstained on the December 2003 UNGA 
resolution remanding the case to the ICJ.) Iranzo indicated, 
however, that Spain would not want to be seen objecting to 
a near-unanimous decision by the ICJ.  Iranzo said Spain 
respects the ICJ decision and wants to be constructive and 
seek common ground on the issue at the UN.  The MFA is 
discussing the issue with the Israel's ambassador in Spain 
and with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv.  Iranzo promised to 
communicate our message directly to Minister Moratinos. 
Subsequent discussions with the MFA indicate Moratinos, who 
has been traveling, has not yet decided on the issue 
(septel). 
 
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Spain and Sudan 
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8. (C)  PolCouns thanked Iranzo for Spain's support for USG 
efforts in Sudan, and delivered the importance of Secretary 
Powell's visit there.  Iranzo told us that Spain wants to 
help define the terms of the Darfur resolution in the UN in 
the interest of securing peace in Sudan.  He was concerned 
that applying sanctions on the Jinjaweit militias would be 
difficult because the leaders are not easily identifiable. 
However, Spain would support a UNSC resolution on Darfur 
that puts pressure on the Government of Sudan to disarm the 
militias and allow humanitarian aid workers access to 
refugees.  Iranzo said that Spain has also been involved in 
helping draft a strong EU statement on Sudan. 
 
9. (C)  Noting the USG's broad, multilateral approach to 
the resolution of conflicts in Africa and dealing with 
global challenges such as combating HIV/AIDS, PolCouns 
shared a copy of Secretary Powell's July 8, 2004 speech 
outlining the USG's approach on key Africa issues.  Iranzo 
said that he had not seen the speech and was grateful to 
receive it. 
 
10. (C)  Iranzo said that Spain also supports a multi- 
lateral approach to African issues given the small size of 
its missions on the continent.  Having served as ambassador 
to Angola, Iranzo told us that Spain has maintained 
comprehensive relations with southern Africa and Spanish 
and Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.  He said that 
Spain's major issue in Africa is illegal immigration. 
Bilateral agreements to control illegal immigration between 
African countries and Spain have had little success, Iranzo 
said.  Nevertheless, the GOS will continue to engage 
African countries on issues such as immigration, democracy 
building, and human rights.  Iranzo stated that on these 
issues the U.S. and Spain share a strong common interest. 
MANZANARES