Retirada de tropas españolas de Kosovo

Cable sobre España y Kosovo

La Embajada de EEUU recoge la posición del Gobierno español para negarse a reconocer Kosovo

12 dic 2010 - 13:00CET

ID:	141748
Date:	2008-02-15 17:39:00
Origin:	08MADRID174
Source:	Embassy Madrid
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Dunno:	08STATE15648
Destination:	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