ID:19029
    Date:2004-07-23 08:24:00
    Origin:04MADRID2804
    Source:Embassy Madrid
    Classification:CONFIDENTIAL
    Dunno:04STATE154176
    Destination: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 MADRID 002804 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECDEF PLEASE PASS TO ODS: AJTORRES AND JCS: SYIKE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SP, ODPC 
SUBJECT: SPAIN:  LETTER FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM 
MORATINOS 
 
REF: STATE 154176 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES J. ROBERT MANZANARES FOR REASONS 1.4 ( 
B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C)  Charge Manzanares July 22 delivered to acting 
foreign minister Bernardino Leon Secretary Powell's letter to 
FM Moratinos (Reftel).  The Secretary's letter responded to 
Moratinos' letter of June 4 on the case of Spanish journalist 
Couso, who was killed in the Palestine Hotel incident in Iraq 
last year.  Leon thanked Charge for the response, noting that 
the Moratinos letter had been sent in an attempt to respond 
to a request to the Spanish government from the Couso family. 
 Leon expected no further action on this issue from the GOS. 
 
2.  (C)  Charge took the opportunity to convey our concerns 
(using talking points in reftel) about the dormant, but 
possibly still pending, Spanish court case on the Couso 
incident, noting our desire to avoid a situation in which US 
soldiers could be indicted by a foreign court.  In the event 
of any indictments, Charge urged the MFA to issue a strong 
"friend of the court" type of brief clearly expressing 
opposition to such a development.  Leon was unaware of the 
pending court case, and undertook to look into the matter. He 
emphasized, however, the completely independent nature of the 
Spanish judiciary and the lack of ability of the government 
to influence decisions on court cases.  Charge noted that if 
such indictments occurred, USG would go back to MFA to again 
raise the matter and urge a strong statement of opposition 
from the GOS. 
MANZANARES