US embassy cable - 05MADRID1042

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE, AF/C; LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PINR, UK, SP, EQ 
SUBJECT: (S) SPAIN: RESPONSE TO FOLLOW UP REQUEST RE 
EQUATORIAL GUINEA COUP PLOT 
 
REF: A. STATE 43081 
 
     B. STATE 37166 
     C. MADRID 861 
 
Classified By: Ricardo Zuniga, Political Officer. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (S) Summary:  Spanish Foreign Ministry officials have 
conveyed their concern that the USG released an incorrect 
report regarding a possible coup plot against the Government 
of Equatorial Guinea (GREG) that could adversely affect 
Spain's recent efforts to normalize bilateral relations with 
Equatorial Guinea (EG).  The Spanish Government has sought to 
reassure President Obiang that it did not withhold credible 
information on the alleged coup plot.  Spanish officials 
recommended that the USG share sensitive information on EG 
with Spain before releasing it to the GREG to allow the GOS 
to investigate its credibility first.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (S) Poloff met March 11 with Spanish Ministry of Foreign 
(MFA) Deputy Director for sub-Saharan African Affairs, 
Antonio Sanchez-Benedito and Chief of Staff Nuria Reigosa 
Gonzalez to follow up on the GOS investigation of a possible 
coup plot being hatched in Spain against the GREG (refs A and 
B).  Sanchez-Benedito said Spain appreciated being informed 
by the USG on details of the plot.  He explained that during 
FM Moratinos' February 27-28 visit to Equatorial Guinea (EG), 
the GOS had given President Obiang assurances that it 
rejected any acts to destabilize the GREG and would use all 
legal means available to prevent a coup from being organized 
in Spain (Note:  Reigosa provided a readout on Moratinos' EG 
trip in a meeting with poloffs on Friday, March 4.) 
 
3.  (C) Sanchez-Benedito then passed Poloff a March 10 
Spanish EFE press report stating that President Obiang had 
publicly commented that day that the USG had informed the GOS 
of the coup plot, but the "Spanish government has not wanted 
to respond."  According to the news article, Obiang implied 
that the GOS's failure to act on the information proved that 
its "hatred of Equatorial Guinea had increased further," and 
that Spain's "envy" of USG ties to EG's petroleum sector 
contributed to the GOS's silence on the coup plot. 
Sanchez-Benedito said that the USG release to the GREG of 
information contained in the USG report hurt Spain's ongoing 
efforts to normalize relations with EG especially following 
Foreign Minister Moratinos, visit there. 
 
4.  (S)  Since previous discussions with the MFA regarding a 
possible coup plot in Spain against the GREG (ref C), 
Sanchez-Benedito said Spanish investigations had proved some 
details in the USG report were false.  He explained that the 
GOS had linked certain Lebanese businessman in Madrid to a 
possible coup plot.  There was no evidence that these 
individuals were involved in planning meetings in Madrid or 
Marbella.  Sanchez-Benedito said GOS sources had identified a 
Guinean professor at the University of Salamanca, an EG 
dissent and member of the Movement for the Self-Determination 
of Bioko Island.  However, contrary to the USG report, the 
professor did not appear to be connected to the coup plotters 
identified in the USG report or those involved in the foiled 
coup attempt in February 2004.  Sanchez-Benedito said the 
claim by the source of the USG,s report that there were as 
many as 1000 troops prepared to participate in the coup also 
appeared to be false, according to GOS sources. 
 
5.  (S) Sanchez-Benedito said that the USG report had created 
an "embarrassing situation" for the GOS, and the Spanish 
Embassy in Malabo had already briefed President Obiang on the 
report's inaccuracies revealed by the GOS investigation.  He 
explained Spanish officials have worked hard to engage the 
GREG at the highest levels to repair bilateral relations. 
Sanchez-Benedito said the GOS would have liked to have seen 
and commented on the credibility of the USG report before it 
was released to the GREG.  He asked Poloff to convey Spain's 
desire to share sensitive information on Equatorial Guinea 
before its release to the GREG.  This could help avoid 
passing inaccurate information or damaging Spain's relations 
with President Obiang, Sanchez-Benedito said. 
 
6.  (S) Comment:  Although the tone of the meeting on the 
MFA's investigation of the alleged coup plot against 
Equatorial Guinea was cordial, and the Deputy Director for 
sub-Saharan African Affairs Sanchez-Benedito expressed the 
GOS appreciation for the USG report, it was clear that the 
MFA officials believe that the USG report has adversely 
affected its recent efforts to repair bilateral relations 
with Equatorial Guinea.  The Spanish argued that they have 
credible information that disproves the information contained 
in the USG report and have presented this information to 
President Obiang as damage control following his comments on 
the coup plot in the EG national press.  Thus far, the MFA 
has kept details on the coup plot and Obiang's comments from 
appearing in popular Spanish press. 
MANZANARES