US embassy cable - 04MADRID4430

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CIS COLLECTIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, EU, SP 
SUBJECT: SPAIN: RESPONSE TO SECOND ROUND OF UKRAINIAN 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 240442 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo Zuniga. 
Reason 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1.  (C)  Poloffs met with the MFA desk officer for Russia and 
Eastern European affairs, Marta Ruiz, 11/16 to encourage 
Spain's participation in the second round of presidential 
election in the Ukraine set for November 21 and to hear GOS 
views on imposing visa restrictions on Ukrainian officials 
who have engaged in electoral fraud or manipulation (reftel). 
 Ruiz told us that Spain agrees that the previous election 
round did not meet international standards.  She added that 
although the GOS would like to see the OSCE augment its 
international election observer presence for the second 
round, Spain does not plan to participate in it.  Ruiz 
explained that Spain is currently resolving legal differences 
with the OSCE over funding for Spanish participation in OSCE 
election observer missions.   She added that the GOS expects 
the legal issue to be resolved in the coming months so that 
Spanish OSCE members can participate in future missions. 
 
2.  (C)  On the issue of visa bans against Ukrainian 
officials involved in electoral fraud, Ruiz told poloffs that 
because Spain is party to the Schengen visa agreements, it 
cannot introduce a travel ban without the approval of all 
Schengen members.  She added that any travel restriction 
measures would also have to be discussed within the EU and 
would not have an immediate effect on prohibiting the travel 
of Ukrainian official who are found to have engaged in 
electoral fraud. 
ARGYROS