US embassy cable - 05MADRID2750

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR FOR A/S FRIED 
EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE AND HALL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, SP 
SUBJECT: GOS DENIES SHIFT IN CHINA ARMS EMBARGO POLICY 
 
Classified By: DCM Bob Manzanares; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Spanish media reported that President 
Zapatero expressed support for a lifting of the EU China arms 
embargo during an official visit to China.  DCM spoke with 
Deputy FM Bernardino Leon and with MOD Chief of Staff Miguel 
Fernandez Palacio to convey the sensitivity of this issue for 
the USG and to request a clarification of Spanish policy 
towards the China arms embargo.  Deputy FM Leon insisted that 
Zapatero's comments were taken out of context and that 
Spanish policy remained to work with EU partners towards a 
lifting of the arms embargo, but only with strict application 
of the Code of Conduct and only after China gave positive 
signals on human rights.  DCM made clear continued USG 
opposition to the lifting of the arms embargo and said this 
episode had not been helpful to bilateral relations.  Leon 
offered to contact EUR A/S Fried to explain the context 
surrounding Zapatero's statements.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On July 21 and July 22, Spanish media sources covering 
President Zapatero's visit to China reported that Zapatero 
had expressed support for the lifting of the EU China arms 
embargo.  Zapatero said the sanctions should be lifted when 
the EU reaches agreement on the Code of Conduct governing EU 
member weapons sales to China.  Zapatero reiterated this 
position during a July 22 press conference with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao, saying the EU embargo should be ended 
"sooner rather than later," within the framework of the Code 
of Conduct.  In the same press conference, Zapatero said 
"There is no democracy if there is no rule of law.... It is 
important that the process of reform be carried out in 
accordance with the identity of China, its history, and its 
culture."  Asked by reporters whether he thought his position 
on the arms embargo would irk the USG, Zapatero responded 
that he was acting within a common EU position and therefore 
did not believe his statements would produce bilateral 
tensions with the USG. 
 
3. (C) Miguel Fernandez Palacio, Chief of Staff to Minister 
of Defense Jose Bono, told DCM on July 21 that Bono (who 
publicly opposed a lifting of the China arms embargo) knew 
this was a sensitive issue for the USG.  Palacio said Bono 
had contacted FM Moratinos to complain about what appeared to 
be a shift in Spanish policy.  Moratinos reportedly assured 
Bono that there had been no change and that Spain only 
supported a lifting of the arms embargo within the EU Code of 
Conduct and only after the Chinese government demonstrated a 
willingness to improve human rights conditions. 
 
4. (C) Palacio's comments mirrored the explanation by Carlos 
Fernandez Arias, adviser to MFA DG for Foreign Policy Rafael 
Dezcallar, when asked for clarification regarding Spain's 
position on the lifting of the arms embargo.  Arias said the 
arms embargo was an "anachronism" at a time when U.S. arms 
sales to China exceeded those of the EU and when the EU only 
maintained similar bans on nations such as North Korea, 
Burma, and Zimbabwe.  However, Arias insisted that Spain was 
not out in front of its EU partners and would only agree to a 
lifting of the ban once China gave a clear signal of intent 
to improve human rights conditions. 
 
5. (C) When Zapatero was again cited on July 22 supporting a 
lifting of the EU arms embargo on China, without any explicit 
caveats regarding advances on human rights, DCM contacted 
Deputy FM Leon to request clarification of Spanish policy. 
Leon was adamant that Zapatero's words had been taken out of 
context by reporters accompanying him and said Moratinos was 
furious with media coverage of Zapatero's remarks.  Leon said 
Zapatero had stuck closely to EU positions on the China arms 
embargo and that he (Leon) was endeavoring to obtain a 
transcript of Zapatero's comments in order to relay them to 
the Embassy.  DCM underscored the sensitivity of the China 
arms embargo issue for the USG and said this episode had not 
been helpful for bilateral relations.  Leon offered to 
contact EUR A/S Fried to explain the context of Zapatero's 
statements.  DCM said that what would be most useful would be 
as complete a record as possible of Zapatero's statements in 
Beijing. 
AGUIRRE