US embassy cable - 05MADRID1816

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001816 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE AND NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, SP 
SUBJECT: FM MORATINOS URGES NORTH AFRICAN "COLLECTIVE 
SECURITY" SYSTEM 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (b) 
 
1. (U) During a visit to Paris, FM Miguel Angel Moratinos 
urged the governments of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, 
and Mauritania to begin laying the groundwork for the 
formation of a "collective security system" to help foster 
regional stability.  Moratinos acknowledged that his 
recommendation was "very premature," but said the time had 
come for North African countries to begin incorporating 
military cooperation into their long term regional 
integration plans.  During a joint appearance with French FM 
Barnier and Moroccan Deputy FM Fassi-Fehri, Moratinos 
suggested that a "Maghrebi collective defense system" could 
maintain relations with "Euromediterranean (countries) and 
with NATO." 
 
2. (C) On May 11, Poloff contacted Carlos Fernandez Arias, 
MFA adviser on security issues to DG for Foreign Policy 
Rafael Dezcallar and until recently the Office Director for 
Maghreb Affairs, to request further information regarding 
Moratinos' proposal.  Arias said that Moratinos was not 
announcing a new initiative; his statements were in line with 
broader Spanish efforts to encourage North African 
political/economic integration in order to stabilize Spain's 
vulnerable southern flank.  As an aside, Arias (protect) said 
Moratinos' statement amounted to "wishful thinking" and said 
it should be seen as a political statement intended to reduce 
regional tensions rather than as an action plan.  Arias said 
Moratinos' comments did not imply any shift in Spanish views 
regarding NATO's security relations with North African 
countries. 
MANZANARES