Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12522 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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 Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
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 Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
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
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
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
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMED AF ASEC AMGT AFIN AG ABLD AJ AL ASUP AR AID AORC AS AE APER ACOA ANET AU ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ARF APECO AEMR ATRN AA AADP ACS AM AZ APCS AFFAIRS ADANA ADPM ADCO AECL ACAO AY APEC AORG ASEAN ABUD AGAO AINF AFSI AFSN AGR AROC AO AODE AMBASSADOR ACABQ AGMT AORL AX AMEX ADM ASIG AFGHANISTAN ASCH AMCHAMS ACBAQ AIT AND ARM AQ ATFN AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AFU AN ALOW
BR BA BL BTIO BH BEXP BO BE BG BU BK BRUSSELS BD BM BT BC BX BIDEN BY BBSR BB BF BP BN BILAT BTIU BWC BMGT
CS CO CASC CA CU CH CN CONS CBW CI CE CVIS CW CLINTON CG COE CMGT CJAN CR CWC CD CPAS CT CONDOLEEZZA COUNTER CDG CIDA CM CICTE COUNTRY CJUS CY CBSA CEUDA CLMT CAC CODEL CBE CHR CTM CDC CSW CFED CARICOM CB CL COM CIS CKGR CROS CIC CAPC COPUOS CTR CVR CF CIA COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CACS CAN CITT CARSON CACM CDB CV CBC CNARC
DHS DAO DCM DR DOD DOMESTIC DO DA DK DTRA DJ DEA DISENGAGEMENT DE DPRK DEPT DOE DS DEFENSE DEAX
ES EC ECON EFIN EAID ETRD EAGR ENRG EINV EIND ETTC ECIN EG ELTN EPET ELAB EU ECPS EUREM ET EWWT ELN EAIR EUN EFIS ER EINT ENVR EMIN ENERG ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ELECTIONS EFTA EZ EN ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENNP EI ENVI ETRO ETRN EK ENIV EINVEFIN ECINECONCS ERD EUR EURN EDU EAIG ECONCS ENGY ECONOMICS ETRDEINVTINTCS ETC EFINECONCS EEPET EXIM EAP ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECUN EINDETRD EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ERNG
FR FBI FI FAC FARC FDA FAO FJ FTA FTAA FREEDOM FISO FOR FOREIGN FAS FM FOI FINR FINANCE FMLN FO
GG GM GV GT GOV GTMO GANGS GH GOI GL GA GY GAERC GR GF GCC GAZA GZ GERARD GE GTIP GLOBAL
HO HK HILLARY HA HR HU HUMAN HURI HSTC HI HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON
IR IN IS IZ IT IC IAEA IEFIN ICAO IACI ID IRS INTELSAT IO ILC ITU IMO IRAQI IV ILO ITALY IBRD ICRC IPR ISRAELI IIP INMARSAT IAHRC IWC INTERNAL ICTY ITRA INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IQ IBET INR ICJ INRB IRC IMF IA INTERPOL IDA ISLAMISTS IEA IL IZPREL IRAJ ITF IF ISRAEL ICTR IDP IGAD INRA INRO
JO JA JUS JM JP JOSEPH JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KNNP KTFN KFLU KPAO KMDR KWBG KTER KBCT KPAL KDEM KTIA KOLY KJUS KCRM KV KSUM KWMN KS KRVC KGHG KE KGIC KPRP KTIP KUNR KPKO KRIM KSCA KOMC KHLS KCOR KWAC KISL KZ KG KIRF KMPI KVPR KIPR KOMS KSPR KN KIRC KFRD KCIP KAWC KFIN KCRCM KR KBTS KSEP KFLO KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSTC KICC KMCA KHDP KSAF KACT KSTH KOCI KNUP KPRV KTDB KMIG KIDE KU KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KNPP KERG KSCI KBIO KDRG KGIT KCFE KTLA KTEX KPLS KHIV KCSY KTRD KID KSAC KNAR KMRS KBTR KJUST KREC KLIG KCOM KAID KPWR KDEMAF KCRS KWMM KRCM KRAD KAWK KNEI KTBT KCFC KPAI KFSC KOM KMOC KICA KRGY KO KVIR KX KPOA KCHG KVRP KGCC KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KNSD KHUM KSEC KCMR KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KDDG KIFR KHSA
LY LE LG LI LH LTTE LU LO LA LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MARR MCAP MEPN MNUC MO MASS MX MD MZ MRCRE MI MTCRE MAS MU MR MC MY MTCR MAPP MUCN MIL ML MEDIA MA MPOS MP MERCOSUR MG MK MEETINGS MCC MASC MV MIK MW MT MDC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MEPP MILITARY MASSMNUC
NATO NZ NSF NPG NSG NA NL NU NPT NSFO NS NSC NE NO NK NI NSSP NATIONAL NDP NP NASA NPA NAFTA NG NIPP NEW NZUS NR NRR NH NGO NC NT NAR NV NORAD NATOPREL NW
OTRA OIIP OPRC OREP OVIP ODIP OPDC OPAD OAS OVP OSCE OIE OECD OPCW OEXC OCS OPIC OFDP OSCI OMIG OBSP OFDA OHUM OTR OFFICIALS OSAC ON OCII OES OIC
PGOV PREL PINR PINS PM PO PHUM PK PTER PREF PARM PBTS PE PAS POL PHSA PNAT PL PAK PA PSI POLITICS PROP PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PMIL POV PALESTINIAN PARMS PROG PU PBIO PTBS POLICY PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PG PY PTERE PHUMBA POGOV PNR PRL PINL PRGOV PORG PUNE PDOV PCI PP PS PGOF PGOVLO PF PAO PREO PAHO PREFA PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PGOVE PINF PNG PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PHUMPREL PGIV PRAM PHUH PSA PHUMPGOV PEL
QA
RU RS RP RSO RICE REACTION REPORT RO RW RIGHTS RCMP ROOD RM RUPREL RFE RF REGION RSP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RELATIONS
SY SMIG SNAR SENV SCUL SW SA SOCI SO SP SN SU SR SH SYR SZ SCRS SC SF SHI SL SENVKGHG SYRIA SI SWE SARS STEINBERG SG SNARN SEVN SHUM SPCE SIPDIS SAN SNARCS SAARC SIPRS ST SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SANC SEN
TR TRGY TBIO TPHY TSPA TP TW TU TSPL TS TT TX TZ TI TN TF TERRORISM TD TK TH TIP TC TO TFIN TNGD THPY TL TV TINT TRSY TURKEY TBID TAGS
UK UZ UP US UN UNMIK USTR UNCSD UNHRC UNGA USUN UNSC UNCHR UNESCO UNDC USNC UNO UY UG USEU UV UNEP USPS USAID UNHCR UNAUS UNDP UNC UE UNPUOS USOAS UNVIE UAE UNFICYP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNCND UNICEF
VE VZ VT VTIZ VTEG VTPREL VM VI VN VAT VC
WBG WTRO WHO WIPO WTO WHTI WS WTRQ WI WZ WWARD WHA WITH WFP WMD WB WMO WEU WA
XL XM XW XF XG XT XK XTAG XS XB XE XR XA XZ XY XX XV XU XH XD XI XC XQ
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZO ZL ZF ZB ZU ZJ ZEALAND ZK ZANU ZN ZA ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05MADRID1879, U.S.-SPAIN COUNCIL: MOD BONO EXPRESSES "PERSONAL

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.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
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. #05MADRID1879.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05MADRID1879 | 2005-05-17 15:59 | 2010-12-07 12:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 001879

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2015
    TAGS: PREL SP
    SUBJECT: U.S.-SPAIN COUNCIL: MOD BONO EXPRESSES "PERSONAL
    OPPOSITION" TO LIFTING EU CHINA ARMS EMBARGO

    Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reason 1.4 (B)

    ¶1. (C) Summary. The U.S.-Spain Council, a private
    bi-national NGO dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Spain
    relations, held its tenth annual meeting May 13-16 in
    Seville. Participants included U.S. Council Chairman Senator
    Chris Dodd, EUR DAS Glyn Davies, Charge Manzanares, Spanish
    Minister of Defense Jose Bono, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
    Moratinos, Spain Council Chairman Antonio Garrigues, regional
    political officials, and business leaders from both
    countries. Prince Felipe hosted a dinner for meeting
    participants on the second evening of the event. The most
    newsworthy development during the Council meetings was
    Minister of Defense Bono's strong, but personal, public
    support for maintaining the EU China arms embargo (while
    making clear that FM Moratinos had the final word on Spain's
    position on the arms embargo) and his acknowledgement that he
    may have committed "errors" during his tenure as MOD, a
    reference to his statements/measures that have upset
    U.S.-Spain bilateral relations. Bono informed Charge that he
    had made both comments at the request of Secretary of Defense
    Rumsfeld. Separately, Moratinos urged the creation of a
    U.S.-Spain bilateral commission to meet at the ministerial
    level on an annual basis to discuss regional issues of mutual
    concern, as well as recommending other measures to enhance
    bilateral relations. While the comments of both ministers
    were largely positive, veiled swipes at opposition support
    for U.S. policy in Iraq reflected a continuing temptation to
    drag the USG into domestic political debates. End Summary.

    //DEFENSE MINISTER ON CHINA ARMS EMBARGO//

    ¶2. (C) Bono used a speech to participants in the tenth annual
    meeting of the U.S.-Spain Council to announce his personal
    opposition to the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China.
    He said that it did not make sense to lift the arms embargo
    now simply because "a particular EU country wants to sell
    weapons to China." Bono told Charge privately that he had
    made this statement to honor a request made by Secretary
    Rumsfeld during their May 3 meeting in Washington that Bono
    make public his views on the China arms embargo.

    ¶3. (C) While Bono was careful to note in his speech that FM
    Moratinos had the ultimate word on the China arms issue
    within the Spanish government, his comments nonetheless
    created a stir during an otherwise routine meeting of the
    Council. Charge learned that FM Moratinos and Socialist
    Party Director for International Relations Trinidad Jimenez
    called Bono after his speech to criticize the way he had
    framed the issue. Bono's comments came just hours after
    Moratinos' elaboration of a more nuanced position that tracks
    with that of its EU allies (see para 9.) Bono's statement
    apparently came as a surprise to members of his staff as
    well; an MOD contact called Embassy's Spanish-national
    political assistant (who was present for the speech) to
    verify Bono's declaration.

    ¶4. (C) Separately, Bono said during his speech that he may
    have committed "errors" during his tenure as Defense Minister
    and attributed these mistakes to his lack of experience in
    the MOD role. Bono told Charge that this admission, like his
    comments opposing the lifting of the EU China arms embargo,
    came at the urging of Secretary Rumsfeld. Bono made clear
    that he wanted Secretary Rumsfeld to be informed that he had
    complied with both requests.

    ¶5. (C) Bono's comments were not uniformly positive. He said
    international peace could not be achieved "without the U.S.
    or without the legitimacy (conferred by) the United Nations,"
    an implicit defense of the Zapatero government's withdrawal
    of troops from Iraq on the grounds that the intervention
    lacked a UN mandate. Also, Bono made a general comment to
    the effect that his Jesuit education had taught him that "the
    ends do not always justify the means." (NOTE: Emboffs in
    attendance interpreted this as a veiled criticism of the Iraq
    conflict and of the opposition Popular Party's decision to
    join the U.S.-led coalition. END NOTE.)

    //FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR FORMATION OF U.S.-SPAIN
    BILATERAL COMMISSION//

    ¶6. (U) Moratinos made a wide-ranging speech on U.S.-EU
    relations and praised President Bush's expression of support
    for a strong Europe during his February visit to Brussels.
    He said NATO remained Europe's primary security organization
    and argued that there was no contradiction between a strong
    NATO and the elaboration of a common EU security and defense
    policy. Moratinos recommended increased personnel exchanges
    between the U.S. and the EU and the formation of an "EU
    caucus" in the U.S. Senate as mechanisms for further
    strengthening U.S.-EU ties. Moratinos lauded the USG role in
    the international community, particularly its part in
    resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

    ¶7. (U) The most notable element of Moratinos' speech was his
    call for the establishment of a permanent U.S.-Spain
    bilateral commission to meet at least once a year at the
    ministerial level for discussions on regional issues,
    particularly on Latin America, the Middle East, and the
    Mediterranean basin. Moratinos suggested other measures for
    strengthening U.S.-Spanish relations, including:

    -- joint initiatives to promote shared democratic values in
    North Africa and the Middle East;

    -- the reinforcement of institutional contacts, for example
    through events such as the June 6-10 visit to Washington by
    members of the Spanish Parliamentary Commission on
    International Relations;

    -- increased education exchanges to promote mutual
    understanding;

    -- the establishment of a joint scientific/industrial
    research and development institution; and,

    -- the formation of a joint business organization by private
    sector members of the U.S.-Spain Council.

    ¶8. (U) Moratinos described current U.S.-Spain relations in
    positive terms. He noted Spain's participation in
    peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, and
    Afghanistan and said Spain could be an important partner for
    the USG in other areas as well. Moratinos said Spain's
    advantages included its place as the world's eight largest
    economy ("bigger than that of G-8 member Canada"), its
    influence in Latin America, North Africa, and the Middle
    East, and Spain's role in the fight against terrorism.

    ¶9. (U) While focused on positive aspects of the bilateral
    relationship, Moratinos' speech also touched briefly on
    points of friction. He said Spain had "recovered the
    capacity to engage" the Cuban and Venezuelan governments,
    overcoming the tensions those relationships suffered during
    the Aznar administration. He insisted that Spain was not
    pursuing dialogue as an end in itself, but seeking increased
    influence in order to advocate for improved human rights
    practices on the part of the Cuban government and to preserve
    the rights that still exist in Venezuela. On the EU China
    arms embargo, Moratinos noted that any arms sales would be
    governed by strict EU controls, but said Beijing had to take
    steps to improve human rights conditions before this issue
    could move forward.

    //PP PARTICIPANT TAKES SHOTS AT ZAPATERO//

    ¶10. (U) Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy declined an
    invitation to participate in the Council meetings, but PP
    Parliamentary spokesman on international relations Gustavo
    Aristegui did attend and mounted a withering attack on
    Zapatero's handling of U.S.-Spain relations. Aristegui said
    the GOS was now taking steps to correct its early mistakes,
    but without publicly acknowledging that it had committed
    grave errors. His Socialist counterpart Rafael Estrella
    (considered among the more pro-U.S. Socialist
    parliamentarians) fired back, asking how the USG would view
    it if a former president visited Europe to militate
    unceasingly against the policies of an incumbent
    administration. (NOTE: Both Aristegui and Estrella will be
    part of the Parliamentary delegation that will visit
    Washington June 6-10. They have invited Charge to meet with
    them prior to their departure to review their agenda for the
    visit.)

    //COMMENT//

    ¶11. (C) MOD Bono is among the most popular Spanish
    politicians and his speech before the U.S.-Spain Council
    demonstrated his rhetorical skills. He used the presence of
    the media and USG officials to comply with assurances he had
    reportedly made to Secretary Rumsfeld, while leaving to FM
    Moratinos the unpleasant duty of clarifying Spain's official
    position on the EU China arms embargo. For now, the GOS has
    evidently opted not to clarify the matter publicly in order
    to avoid the appearance of internal discord. More broadly,
    we note that both Bono and Moratinos continue to fight a
    two-front political battle with the opposition PP, on the one
    hand claiming that relations with the USG are as strong as
    ever, and on the other casting PP support for USG policies in
    Iraq as somehow illegitimate and contrary to international
    law. GOS officials have clearly tempered their public
    statements on Iraq in the last five months, but our efforts
    to keep them from dragging the USG into their domestic
    political battles remain a work in progress.
    NEALON

`