US embassy cable - 05MADRID2186

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002186 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM 
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISP (P. GRAFF) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, SP, SU, NATO 
SUBJECT: SPANISH RESPONSE TO AFRICAN UNION AIRLIFT DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 103310 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Ricardo F. Zuniga reasons 1.4(b) and ( 
d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Spain has opted to go the European Union 
route in offering assistance to the African Union Mission in 
Sudan (AMIS).  Spain has donated two small tactical transport 
planes to the AU as part of the EU effort, and has lent along 
with the planes Spanish pilots and maintenance workers who 
will fly and maintain the planes until the AU is able to do 
those things itself.  Spain is also sending five military 
observers.  Spain supports NATO's involvement with AMIS and 
has no objections if other countries want to participate via 
NATO.  The GOS believes both NATO and the EU have valuable 
experience to offer and does not want AMIS to get bogged down 
due to "bickering" over whether assistance should be offered 
through the EU or through NATO.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C) Poloff delivered reftel points June 7 to Manuel 
Acerete, the MFA's Deputy Director General for International 
Security.  Acerete said that while Spain understood the 
reasoning behind the U.S. position, Spain had decided to 
offer assistance to the AU via the EU, rather than NATO. 
According to Acerete, until just before the May 26 conference 
in Addis Ababa, Spain did not plan on making any 
contributions to the effort because it felt it was already 
overstretched with its operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans 
and Haiti.  But "under great pressure from the EU," Spain 
decided to donate the two transport planes, lend necessary 
personnel to operate them, and provide five military 
observers. 
 
3.  (C) Acerete pointed out that the EU has been involved 
with AMIS since 2004.  Spain believes an EU role in AMIS is 
important because the EU has much to offer the AU, and being 
seen by the Africans lending assistance aids the political 
relationship between the EU and African countries. 
 
4.  (C) Finally, Acerete said the GOS hopes both the EU and 
NATO will provide useful assistance to AMIS without getting 
bogged down "bickering" between them about who can do the job 
better.  Both have capabilities to offer the AU, the 
organizations can complement each other, and the goal should 
be providing meaningful help to the AU, Acerete emphasized. 
 
 
MANZANARES