Viewing cable 08MADRID174, SPAIN WILL OPPOSE

KOSOVO RECOGNITION AT GAERC

Reference IDCreated Released Classification Origin

08MADRID174 2008-02-15 17:05 2010-12-13 12:12 CONFIDENTIAL

Embassy Madrid

VZCZCXRO9835

PP RUEHAG RUEHROV

DE RUEHMD #0174/01 0461739

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

P 151739Z FEB 08

FM AMEMBASSY MADRID

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4276

INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 3300

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000174

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2018

TAGS: PHUM PREL EUN SP KV IS

SUBJECT: SPAIN WILL OPPOSE KOSOVO RECOGNITION AT GAERC

REF: A. STATE 15648

¶B. MADRID 162

¶C. BERLIN 184

MADRID 00000174 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Spanish Political Director Rafael Dezcallar and Director General
for North America and Europe Pepe Pons told DCM separately that Spain would
oppose any EU consensus statement on Kosovo recognition in Brussels February 18.

Separately, Spanish Deputy DG for ESDP Carlos Fernandez-Arias told Poloff that the
maximum statement Spain could entertain would be a "two-sentence" statement of
the outcome from Pristina and a restatement of the EU's commitment to the
Western Balkans. The GAERC also plans to send a message of "no more business as
usual" by issuing conclusions on Burma, Kenya, and Chad. END SUMMARY.

//KOSOVO AND SERBIA//

¶2. (C) On February 13, Spanish Political Director Rafael Dezcallar told the DCM that
Spain would almost certainly not be able to join consensus on Kosovo recognition at
the GAERC in Brussels (ref B), but that the decision would be made by Moncloa.
Spanish Vice President Fernandez De La Vega, speaking at the GOS weekly press
briefing February 15, said, "Spain does not support a unilateral declaration of
independence...Despite the fact that recognition is an exclusively national
competency...the government is working and will continue working until the last
moment so that the EU will have a common and active position toward the future of
Kosovo...Our position has not changed." Director General for North America and
Europe Pepe Pons told DCM February 15 that Spain would oppose any movement
toward EU recognition at the GAERC. Noting European concerns about Spanish
opposition due to the elections (ref C), the DCM emphasized that no one seriously
believed that Kosovo would be an electoral issue, nor did any credible politician see
any correlation between Kosovo and Spanish internal disputes. Pons replied that
Kosovo would be an election issue, saying that Kosovo is in the headlines and the
debate in Europe is drawing the government's attention away from its campaign
priorities.

The DCM countered that there was no guarantee that the GOS would be in a
position to support Kosovar independence after the elections, given that a PSOE
victory would mean weeks of negotiations to form a coalition government, while a
PP government would certainly oppose Kosovar independence. Pons acknowledged
this was true, but said that at least then Kosovo's independence would not be
distracting the government during the campaign. Pons said that the Russian
Ambassador had been to see him earlier on February 15 and had left the impression
that the Russians would react negatively but passively to the UDI.

¶3. (C) Deputy Political Director for ESDP Carlos

Fernandez-Arias told Poloff the same separately. Fernandez-Arias said that Spain
would not accept any EU statement that hinted at recognition but would, if pressed,
consider a very brief "no more than two sentence" acknowledgment of the outcome
in Pristina on February 17 along with a restatement of the EU's commitments in the
Western Balkans. Fernandez-Arias noted that the question of recognition is a
prerogative of each member nation and is completely separate from EULEX and the
naming of an EU High Representative, which he said are going forward regardless.
Fernandez-Arias said that the EU would not be able to broach the EU Stabilization
and Association Agreement with the Serbs again until well after Kosovo's
independence, once things have calmed down a bit.

//MEPP//

¶4. (C) Fernandez-Arias said that there would likely be little discussion of the Middle
East, but that Spain is concerned about finding a way to keep the Rafah crossing
open to provide a pressure release valve for Gaza. He said that last month's border
events had weakened Abbas and the PA and had shown the need for such a valve.
The means to administer that border were more challenging, he said, given the
inability to negotiate with Hamas.

//BURMA//

¶5. (C) According to Fernandez-Arias, Spain supports the EU in Burma and does not
want the situation to return to the status quo ante. The GAERC will issue
conclusions on Burma calling for continued pressure and sanctions but FM
Moratinos feels it is also important to send positive signals to the Burmese regime.

//CHAD//

MADRID 00000174 002.2 OF 002

¶6. (C) With plans moving forward once more for EUFOR's deployment to Chad and
CAR, Spain is pushing conclusions that will first and foremost keep forward
momentum for EUFOR and also make a qualified statement of support for President
Deby that cannot be interpreted as a carte blanche for the Chadian government to
exact reprisals.

//KENYA//

7, (C) The GAERC will issue conclusions on Kenya calling for dialogue and supporting
the UN, and calling for an end to "business as usual."

AGUIRRE