

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06MADRID779, SPAIN: AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH FM MORATINOS
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06MADRID779.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06MADRID779 | 2006-03-31 10:26 | 2011-02-02 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid |
VZCZCXRO8502
OO RUEHAG
DE RUEHMD #0779/01 0901026
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 311026Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9286
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 3884
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0919
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY 1174
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 5945
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 1828
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0159
C C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000779
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR A/S FRIED AND DAS VOLKER; EUR/WE; NSC FOR JUDY
AINSLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP UN
SUBJECT: SPAIN: AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH FM MORATINOS
REF: STATE 40904
MADRID 00000779 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre
for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary: (C) Spanish FM Moratinos told Ambassador Aguirre
that he cancelled his April trip to Damascus as a sign of
good faith with the US. He conveyed to the Ambassador
President Zapatero's personal thanks to him and the USG for
the Department,s statement on the ETA ceasefire. He said he
was working to make sure that Spanish Defense Minister Bono
turned off any plans to refurbish Libyan Chinooks and said he
was seeking agreement to send Spanish Guardia Civil and
police to Haiti, possibly with a contingent of Moroccan
counterparts, following the Spanish withdrawal of its
peacekeepers. Moratinos asked the Ambassador to consider
whether it would be possible or useful for the two of them to
stop in Washington and meet with Secretary Rice en route to
or from the US-Spain Council meetings in Tampa in mid-June.
The Ambassador also raised Latin America and NATO support for
the AMIS mission in Darfur, and touched on Haiti, Afghanistan
and the MFA,s invitation to discuss Western Sahara with
senior NEA officials. END SUMMARY
¶2. (C) Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told
Ambassador Aguirre he had decided to cancel his planned April
trip to Damascus as a sign of Spain,s desire to work with
the US, but said that he believed it was a mistake to
continue to isolate the Asad regime. Ambassador Aguirre
reviewed in detail US concerns regarding Syria (reftel),
emphasizing our multilateral approach, insistence on
fulfillment of UN Security Council resolutions and our close
cooperation with EU, which also has a unified policy toward
Syria. The Ambassador also made clear his and the USG,s
displeasure with press leaks about his discussions with
Moratinos and the Foreign Ministry during the period of
Moratinos, unannounced &technical stop" in Damascus earlier
this month.
¶3. (C) Raising the recent ETA ceasefire announcement,
Moratinos carried a personal message of thanks from President
Zapatero to the Ambassador and the USG for the approach the
Department spokesman had taken in response to questions about
the US position on the ceasefire. Moratinos said the
ceasefire offer is serious, even though there is a long road
ahead. The government believes that the signs are positive
on ending ETA violence but remains cautious and its public
statements will remain cautious. The Ambassador asked about
whether Zapatero might hold early elections as part of the
strategy of confirming his position in the ETA negotiations
(a rumor rampant in the PP). Moratinos said he had heard
from Zapatero personally that there would be no call for
early elections and no reason for them. Zapatero is
confident that he will win in the regularly scheduled
national elections in spring of 2008.
¶4. (C) On possible Spanish defense sales to Libya, Moratinos
said he understood our concerns and had spoken to Defense
Minister Bono; Moratinos believes that there will be nothing
further on the idea of refurbishing Libyan Chinook
helicopters.
¶5. (C) Moratinos affirmed his desire to work closely with the
US on Latin America. He said that Evo Morales gave Spanish
Deputy FM Bernardino Leon in La Paz recently a message for
the US: that Bolivian relations with the US were better than
he expected, he was seeking to fulfill requirements on coca
eradication, and sought US help in limiting damage to
Bolivian soybean exports to Colombia and others affected by
the Free Trade Agreement. Moratinos said Spain was working
hard with the Andean Community to counter Venezuelan
President Chavez, attempts to pull Bolivia away from that
fold. Ambassador Aguirre noted that increased Spanish
efforts to support Sumate in Venezuela would be welcome, and
that ending further ideas to continue with the aircraft sale
to Venezuela would also go a long way toward building US
confidence in our cooperative efforts. Moratinos replied
that the plane sale was dead; the Ambassador pointed to
continued news reports that discussions continued on
obtaining the technology from other countries following the
US denial of the technology transfer.
MADRID 00000779 002.2 OF 002
¶6. (C) Noting Moratinos,s own comments on the subject, the
Ambassador asked about plans to send Spanish Guardia Civil
and/or police to Haiti following the withdrawal of Spanish
troops. Moratinos said that he was working to get some 50-60
Guardia Civil and Spanish National Police officers to Haiti,
in addition to 40-50 Moroccan counterparts (not further
identified), but that neither contingent was yet confirmed.
¶7. (C) The Ambassador broached rumors that Spain might
augment its troop presence in Afghanistan. Moratinos said
that, again, there was nothing definite yet, but he was
seeking to convince DefMin Bono on the need to send some 100
more troops to assist the Spanish PRT in Western Afghanistan
and to provide the PRT with additional support capabilities.
¶8. (C) The Ambassador raised NATO,s efforts to support the
AMIS operation in Darfur, in response to reports that the
Spanish PermRep had posed difficulties as the NAC approved
its tasking to the Military Committee on this issue.
Moratinos was not briefed on the issue and said he would
investigate right away. Ambassador Aguirre emphasized that
he would prefer to see Spain as a catalyst for positive
support on this and other NATO issues, not as a source of
obstacles.
¶9. (C) In a related discussion, Ambassador Aguirre noted that
Spain,s new emphasis on development aid and other support to
Africa might provide opportunities for US-Spain cooperation;
Moratinos expressed interest in exploring ways the US and
Spain could work together. He said in addition to
development support, Spain was sending 150 peacekeepers to
support peacekeeping in Congo.
¶10. (C) Ambassador Aguirre told Moratinos that he thought it
unlikely that NEA A/S Welch would visit Madrid soon to
discuss Western Sahara, as Madrid had requested, because the
timing did not seem right. Expressing his disappointment,
Moratinos said that while the Moroccans likely would not
develop their autonomy plan for another 6-9 months, it made
sense for the US, Spain and others to strategize in advance.
There would be no need for publicity on the discussions,
Moratinos added.
¶11. (C) At the close of the meeting, Moratinos noted that he
likely would run into Secretary Rice at the NAC Foreign
Minister,s meeting in Sofia, and wondered whether there was
any news on his invitation for her to visit Madrid sometime
in the future. The Ambassador replied that he had nothing
new on the subject but added that actions such as Moratinos,
stop on Damascus and other such distractions were not helpful
in making the case. Moratinos asked whether every
distraction would bring Spain, an ally, back to the starting
point of two years ago. The Ambassador said that Spain and
the US were good allies, but given the difficult times we
have gone through over the past two years, which we and Spain
were trying to overcome, irritantsQe and small become
very important as the relationshiQs to mend iQ.
Moratinos said frankly that a visit by the Secretary would
help his credibility as he worked against steps taken by
DefMin Bono such as the Venezuela arms sales.
¶12. (C) Moratinos asked whether he and the Ambassador should
stop in Washington en route to or during their return from
US-Spain Council meetings in Florida in mid-June and possibly
meet with the Secretary. Ambassador Aguirre undertook to
pass this suggestion back to Washington, saying he did not
know where the Secretary would be at this time (the time
frame in question is June 15-19). Moratinos said that he
would like to visit the US more often to meet with key
interlocutors in Congress, including the Hispanic Caucus, as
well as think tanks and the US administration, but could not
do so without having a meeting at some point there with
Secretary Rice. (Note: Moratinos last met with Secretary
SIPDIS
Rice in Washington on May 3, 2005).
AGUIRRE