US embassy cable - 04MADRID4116

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004116 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/WE, STAS, EAP/J, AND OES/SAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2014 
TAGS: TRGY, TSPL, TNGD, ENRG, SP 
SUBJECT: SPANISH ON ITER HOME 
 
REF: SECSTATE 223994 
 
Classified By: ECONCOUNS WHITNEY BAIRD PER 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1.  (U) ESTHOFF made reftel points October 19-22 to:  (1) 
Juan Antonio Rubio, Director General of the Center for 
Energy, Environment, and Technology Investigation (CIEMAT); 
(2) Francisco Javier Arana Landa, Deputy Director General for 
Nuclear Energy, Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce; 
(3) Carlos Alejaldre Losilla, Director General for Technology 
Policy, Ministry of Science and Education; and, (4) Julio 
Barcelo, Commissioner, Nuclear Security Council (CSN - 
Spain's Nuclear Regulatory Commission equivalent). 
 
2.  (C)  Arana said he agreed on the importance of 
maintaining the six-party framework, arguing that it would 
simply be too expensive for the world to pursue two ITERs 
(one EU/Russia/China; the other U.S./Japan/South Korea).  He 
thought the initial French brush-off of the Japanese 
"host/non-host" offer was merely a negotiating tactic 
designed to exact as many concessions as possible from the 
Japanese.  He felt France would come around in the end and 
provide Tokyo a more constructive response. 
 
3.  (C)  Barcelo also agreed with our points, but unlike 
Arana, was convinced that Paris was determined "for the glory 
of France" to pursue an EU-centric ITER without U.S. 
participation.  Alejaldre, who will lead the Spanish team to 
the Vienna meeting, told ESTHOFF that the session had been 
postponed until November 9.  He said Spain strongly supports 
the six-party framework and will so argue at the November 9 
meeting and within subsequent EU councils.  Rubio also agreed 
that staying with the six-party framework would be ideal.  As 
to whether Spain would lobby France to not go alone, Rubio 
frankly responded, "it depends what France might offer Spain" 
in the context of an EU-centric project. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT:  Four senior interlocutors; four different 
visions.  It is clear that we have a potential ally in Spain, 
which lost out to France in the intra-EU contest to be the 
ITER host.  But, of course, the key question and big unknown 
is whether this sympathy will result in Spain arguing 
strenuously within EU councils to keep to the six-party 
framework.  One of the six major planks of Spain's "new" 
Socialist Government is "the return to Europe."  This has 
often resulted in a "give the French and Germans what they 
want" policy line.  Our interlocutors, however, thought the 
ITER has not been overly politicized  (i.e., it remains off 
the Socialist's radar screen).  Thus, on balance, we believe 
Spain will at least initially take our side on this one when 
the EU sits down on November 25 to make its decision. 
However, should France be serious about the EU going alone 
(or without the U.S.), we should not expect Spain to fall on 
its sword to defend the six-party framework. 
ARGYROS