US embassy cable - 04MADRID3969

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 003969 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SP, EUN 
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, SPAIN'S VIEWS ON IRAQ, CHINA, 
LIBYA, SUDAN AND NORTH CYPRUS 
 
REF: A. STATE 214023 
 
     B. MADRID 3839 
     C. MADRID 3829 
     D. MADRID 3937 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleeen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY.  Poloff discussed Iraq, China, Libya, 
Sudan, and North Cyprus with Enrique Mora Benavente, MFA Head 
of EU Planning, on October 6.  Mora Benavente does not expect 
that Iraq will be discussed at the GAERC meetings.  Spain's 
position on the China arms embargo remains unchanged; for 
example, a strengthened Code of Conduct would be sufficient 
to replace the embargo.  The decision has already been made 
to lift sanctions and the arms embargo against Libya; the EU 
is now working on an appropriate Code of Conduct for Libya. 
Spain supports EU efforts helping the African Union in Sudan 
and will contribute humanitarian assistance, although there 
will be no bilateral contribution to the African Union force. 
 Although, Spain supports increased economic cooperation with 
North Cyprus, only the 259 million euro aid package is likely 
to pass, due to Greek and Greek Cypriot opposition.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
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IRAQ 
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2.  (C)  Mora Benavente said Iraq would not be discussed at 
the GAERC meetings. He said the GOS will not contribute as a 
member state to the UN Protection Force in Iraq.  (FYI: 
Spanish Defense Minister Bono had to retract a statement 
earlier this week indicating the GOS might send troops to 
Iraq under a UN request.)  He added that Spain is still 
exploring police training options with USD 300 million that 
it has pledged towards Iraq, but the situation on the ground 
does not allow for cooperation at this moment. 
 
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CHINA ARMS EMBARGO 
-------------------- 
 
3.  (C)  Spain believes that the Code of Conduct is 
sufficient to monitor arms sales to China.  EUR/WE Director 
Kathleen Allegrone, Charge, and Poloff discussed U.S. 
concerns about the EU lifting the Chinese arms embargo while 
highlighting human rights concerns in separate meetings with 
a variety of Spanish MFA officials September 28-30 (Ref B). 
Mora Benavente said that there would be a discussion on 
lifting the arms embargo during lunch on October 11, but no 
final decision would be made until later.  He added that 
eventually the arms embargo will be lifted as a political 
signal of EU efforts to foster better relations with China, 
but that the date could possibly be pushed back if that leads 
to increased cooperation with the U.S. and Japan on the issue. 
 
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LIBYAN SANCTIONS 
---------------- 
 
4.  (C)  The EU has already decided to announce the full 
lifting of sanctions against Libya, including its arms 
embargo.  The partial lifting of the arms embargo to allow 
for border control equipment to stem the flow of illegal 
immigration will be the first step of the lifting of the 
embargo.  Once a Code of Conduct is agreed upon, the full 
lifting of sanctions and the arms embargo will take place. 
The EU believes that Libya has abandoned its pursuit of 
weapons of mass destruction and terrorist activities and is 
encouraged by Libya's agreement to settle with the EU victims 
of Lockerbie and LaBelle. (For more detail on GOS thinking on 
this issue, see Ref C.) 
 
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SUDAN 
----- 
 
5.  (C)  The GOS supports EU efforts in coordinating with the 
Australians and the U.S. to encourage the African Union to 
focus on rapid deployment of forces to improve the security 
situation in Darfur.  Spain will be contributing humanitarian 
assistance to the victims in Darfur, but there will be no 
bilateral economic assistance outside of any EU efforts to 
the African Union force.  The GOS concurs with U.S. views on 
the dire situation in Darfur, but is waiting for the 
conclusions of the commission of inquiry set up by UNSCR 1564 
before deciding if the situation in Darfur should be called a 
genocide. 
 
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NORTH CYPRUS 
------------ 
 
6.  (C)  Spain is very supportive of extending trade 
concessions and financial assistance to the Turkish Cypriots, 
but at recent EU meetings both Greece and Cyprus had opposed 
increased EU economic ties with North Cyprus, a change 
requiring unanimous consent.  Mora Benavente said that the 
current EU goal is to extend economic assistance now and then 
push for trade considerations when the Greeks and Greek 
Cypriots are willing.  Spain will support the 259 million 
euro aid package to North Cyprus when it comes to a vote. 
Benavente predicts the EU will approve the aid package, 
because an aid package to North Cyprus does not require 
unanimous consent (Ref D). 
ARGYROS