C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000897 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, 
GEORGIA TASK FORCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018 TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PHUM, 
OSCE, UN, GG, RS, SP SUBJECT: SPAIN FOLLOWS EU LEAD ON GEORGIA CRISIS 
REF: A. STATE 87254 B. STATE 86108 Classified By: DCM Arnold Chacon for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 

1. (C) Ambassador conveyed reftel points and 
reiterated our continuing concerns about Russian actions in Georgia to 
Spain's National Security Advisor-equivalent Milagros Hernandez. She 
confirmed that our demarches were received by President Zapatero and 
Foreign Minister Moratinos. Hernandez also noted that President Zapatero
and French President Sarkozy spoke at length on Saturday, August 9 
about the situation. Spain will continue to work within the EU framework
and is supportive of French actions as EU President. 

2. (U) The GOS 
pledged more than 770K USD for humanitarian aid, approximately 15% of 
total pledges and the third largest contribution. The Spanish MFA 
released a simple statement noting Moratinos, participation in the 
August 13 EU GAERC meeting on the situation in Georgia. Moratinos is 
quoted as saying, "the EU is united to fulfill its policy role," and 
that, "thanks to EU efforts the situation is more calm." Spanish MFA 
staff told Poloff that the GOS does not plan to make any further 
statements. 

3. (C) Embassy also learned from the office of Deputy FM 
Angel Lossada that the MFA view is that inappropriate actions took place
by both parties. Spain agrees that we must continually be mindful of 
the need to prevent further deterioration of the situation. With regard 
to points that Russia must be held to account for actions that are a 
gross violation of its international commitment to uphold Georgia's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity, Spain's view is that strong 
statements against Russia are counter-productive. Angel Lossada will 
represent Spain at the Tuesday, August 19 NATO meeting in Brussels and 
reportedly his approach will aim to encourage colleagues to, "study the 
situation with calm," and "avoid actions that would lead to a downward 
spiral of reprisals." 

4. (U) Spanish press continues to cover the 
Caucasus crisis, specifically the events in Gori, and recognizes 
Russia,s role as aggressor. Although a few press commentators have 
attempted to correlate the Georgia crisis and Kosovo,s declaration of 
independence from Serbia, this stance does not appear to resonate with 
the Spanish public. Embassy officers will continue to emphasize that 
Kosovo is not a precedent for Georgia if any interlocutors attempt to 
present that analogy. Apart from our continuing demarches to the most 
senior levels, Embassy has widely distributed our points within the MFA 
to ensure the broadest consideration of our view, including the North 
America Office, the European office, the International Organizations 
Office and the MFA office working to evacuate Spanish citizens from 
Georgia and Armenia. Aguirre