US embassy cable - 04MADRID4788

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Identifier:	04MADRID4788
Wikileaks:	View 04MADRID4788 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Madrid
Created:	2004-12-21 11:36:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL TRGY SP EUN
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 004788 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/WE, STAS, EAP/J, AND OES/SAT; 
PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (MCSLARROW AND ORBACH) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, TRGY, SP, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITER: SPAIN DEMARCHED ON ITER FINANCING 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 268243 
     B. MADRID 4486 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: ESTHOFF KEN FORDER PER 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1.  (C) ESTHOFF passed Ref A points and letter December 20 to 
Science Ministry Technology Policy Director General Carlos 
Alejaldre Losilla, reiterating U.S. support for Japan's ITER 
proposal, noting U.S. concerns regarding lack of clarity in 
the EU's ITER proposal, and underscoring our commitment to 
the six-party framework.  Alejaldre, who reaffirmed Spain's 
strong commitment to the six-party framework, said he viewed 
developments over the past four weeks (i.e., since he had 
last met with ESTHOFF to discuss ITER -- see Ref B) as a 
mixture of good and bad news. 
 
2.  (C) As for the bad news, Alejaldre said he was starting 
to doubt whether the EU could seal a deal with Japan based on 
the Japanese host/no-host proposal.  He attributed his 
growing doubts to alleged Japanese intransigence.  On the 
positive side of the ledger, Alejaldre said that he believed 
incoming Commissioner Potocnik was less pro-French than his 
predecessor and more committed to the six-party framework. 
 
3.  (C) Alejaldre indicated that he was virtually certain 
that the EU's Competitiveness Council would miss its December 
31 deadline for an ITER decision (noting that late December 
in Europe was like August -- nothing gets done).  He said 
that the Council would next meet on March 7-8 and that Spain 
understood that the EU's complete financing package would be 
released at that meeting.  That said, Alejaldre thought 
Commissioner Potocnik would respond to DOE Deputy Secretary 
McSlarrow's letter early next year and that the response 
would address the U.S.'s concerns by previewing the general 
parameters of the EU ITER financing scheme. 
MANZANARES