US embassy cable - 04MADRID4445

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 004445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SP, EUN 
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF NOV 22 GAERC:  MEPP, 
CHINA, KOSOVO, BELARUS, CYPRUS, TURKEY, ESDP 
 
REF: A. STATE 244333 
     B. MADRID 4444 
 
Classified By: Poloff Ricardo Zuniga for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY.  Poloff discussed the Middle East Peace 
Process, China, Kosovo, Belarus, Cyprus, ESDP issues, Iran, 
and Ukraine with MFA Deputy EU Correspondent Luis Canovas del 
Castillo on November 18.  Poloff also discussed Spain's views 
on Turkey with Juan Aristegui, MFA Subdirector General on EU 
Issues, on October 18.  Spain believes that there is 
currently an opportunity to explore Middle East peace options 
that focus around a two-state solution.  Spain's views on the 
Chinese Arms Embargo, Kosovo, and Cyprus remain unchanged. 
Spain and the EU share U.S. concerns over Belarus's human 
rights abuses and election problems.  Spain favors Turkish 
entry into the EU and believes accession talks should start 
without delay.  Spain favors increased cooperation between 
the EU and NATO.  Spain and other EU nations are likely to 
reward Iran for foresaking nuclear enrichment.  END SUMMARY 
 
 
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MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 
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2.  (C)  Spain believes that there is currently a moment to 
push forward new ideas to promote peace in the Middle East. 
With a newly elected U.S. administration, Israel's possible 
pull-out from Gaza, and new leadership on the Palestinian 
side, there is now a chance to work towards peace.  Spain is 
a strong proponent of EU security affairs chief Javier 
Solana's proposal to keep alive a two-state solution to the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Spain particularly favors 
elements of the plan that include the supporting of funding 
for elections, more security on the ground, and financial 
assistance to the Palestinians. 
 
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CHINA 
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3.  (C)  Spain continues to support a lifting of the Chinese 
Arms Embargo with a Code of Conduct. 
 
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KOSOVO 
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4.  (C)  Canovas said that Kosovo was not on the agenda for 
the GAERC meetings, but the EU supports efforts of the 
Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Soren 
Jessen-Petersen to transfer additional competencies to the 
Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) to build 
capacity and help them meet standards. 
 
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BELARUS 
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5.  (C)  Spain and the EU share the U.S.'s concerns about the 
human rights situation in Belarus.  Aleksandr Lukashenka 
leads an authoritarian regime whose goal is to perpetuate 
power.  At the GAERC meetings, the EU will likely ratify 
conclusions of an EU report that condemns the Lukashenka 
regime.  Additionally, the EU could possibly impose sanctions 
on Belarus. 
 
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CYPRUS 
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6.  (C)  Spain's position within the EU is unchanged on aid 
and trade to North Cyprus.  Spain supports efforts to assist 
North Cyprus with direct aid and increased trade and 
cooperation. 
 
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TURKEY 
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7.  (C)  Spain has always favored Turkish entry into the EU. 
Aristegui told Poloff that Spain believes that Turkish 
accession talks should start without delay in 2005, but that 
Spain will try to work for an EU consensus and achieve a date 
for accession talks that is the best for Turkey's candidacy. 
EU members are awaiting the European Parliaments' first draft 
report on Turkey's ability to meet EU political criteria. 
According to Aristegui, this report could go against earlier 
recommendations of the European Commission that had been more 
optimistic about when Turkey might enter the EU. 
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ESDP ISSUES 
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8.  (C)  Spain favors increased cooperation between the EU 
and NATO and respects the Berlin-Plus arrangements.  The EU 
and NATO have worked well together in areas of the former 
Yugoslavia.  Spain will form its own Battlegroup and is ready 
to cooperate with other allies. 
 
 
OTHER ISSUES 
 
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IRAN 
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9.  (C)  EU member states will likely discuss Iran at the 
GAERC meetings.  Spain believes that EU states should show 
more willingness to cooperate and trade with Iran after its 
recent gesture to stop nuclear enrichment. 
 
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UKRAINE 
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10.  C)  The EU hopes for clean and fair elections in the 
Ukraine.  Regardless of who wins the election, Spain will 
carry on a dialogue with the Ukrainian government, as Ukraine 
is an EU neighbor of strategic importance (Ref B). 
 
ARGYROS