US embassy cable - 04MADRID3829

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003829 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2014 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, PGOV, SP, EUN 
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS EU ROAD MAP ON NORMALIZING LIBYA 
RELATIONS 
 
REF: STATE 207640 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for Reasons 1.4 
 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY.  Poloff delivered reftel talking points to 
Enrique Mora Benavente, Head of EU Planning at the MFA, on 
September 29.  Mora Benavente told Poloff that Spain favors 
the four-step European "road map" to normalized relations and 
economic cooperation with Libya.  The four-step process 
includes:  (1) the partial lifting of the arms embargo with 
Libya to allow for the sale of border control equipment, (2) 
the complete lifting of the arms embargo, (3) the 
normalization of relations with Libya, including accession to 
the Barcelona Process, and (4) increased trade and economic 
relations.  To reach each step Libya would have to achieve 
certain benchmarks linked to settlement of terrorist claims 
or human rights improvements.  Mora Benavente was unaware of 
any recent terrorist activities of Libya.  END SUMMARY 
 
2.  (C)  The first step of the EU "road map" for Libya which 
will be discussed at the GAERC meetings on October 11 
includes the partial lifting of the arms embargo to allow for 
border control equipment to stem the flow of illegal 
immigration.  The EU will likely take this first step as a 
result of the progress they have seen recently in Libya's 
efforts to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) 
program.  Spain and other EU members would be willing to lift 
the arms embargo against Libya as a second step provided that 
two conditions are met.  First, Libya must settle with the EU 
victims of Lockerbie and LaBelle.  Second, the EU must firmly 
be convinced that Libya has abandoned its pursuit of a WMDs 
program; this would include confirmation from the 
International Atomic Energy Association concerning the status 
of Libya's nuclear programs. 
 
3.  (C)  The third step of the "road map", the normalization 
of relations with Libya, would be connected to the resolution 
of the Bulgarian medics issue. Mora Benavente said that many 
EU states are convinced that Libya has made the strategic 
decision to become a normal member of the world community. 
This step could include Libya's entering the Barcelona 
Process where members pledge to promote and strengthen peace, 
stability and security in the Mediterranean region.  The 
fourth step of the "road map" would be the negotiating 
economic and political reform that could eventually lead to a 
trade agreement and increased economic cooperation.  As an 
aside, Mora Benavente added that the Syrian government is 
currently involved in negotiations to achieve increased 
economic cooperation with the EU. 
 
4.  (C)  When Poloff told Mora Benavente that the U.S. still 
had serious concerns regarding Libya's role in terrorist 
activities, he said that according to Spanish information, 
the Libyan government had given up support of terrorism. 
When asked about the alleged involvement of Libya in the 2003 
assassination plot against Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Mora 
Benavente responded that the plot was an internal Arab 
problem and not likely the deliberate actions of the Libyan 
govenment; he compared the plot to an attempted mafia hit. 
 
5.  (C)  Mora Benavente said that the GOS shares many of the 
concerns of the USG and that is the reason that benchmarks 
are incorporated at each stage of the process of the 
normalization of relations.  He conceded that there were no 
benchmarks related to terrorist activities, but he reiterated 
that many EU states believe that Libya has made the strategic 
decision to abandon both the pursuit of WMDs and terrorist 
activity.  He added that some nations like Italy and the 
United Kingdom would like to see the EU move quickly on this 
issue, while other nations, including many Nordic countries, 
would like to see the EU be more deliberate in its approach 
due to human rights concerns. 
MANZANARES