This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
171530Z Nov 05
UNCLAS MADRID 004009
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
EUR/WE FOR ALLEGRONE AND HALL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: LETTER TO SECRETARY FROM FM MORATINOS
1. (SBU) During the November 16 visit to Madrid of EUR
Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried, Deputy Foreign Minister
Bernardino Leon gave A/S Fried a letter to Secretary Rice
from Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. The
letter discusses the Spanish government,s positive view of
the state of the bilateral relationship and invites the
Secretary to visit Spain in the first quarter of 2006. Para
SIPDIS
2 contains an informal translation of the letter. The
original will be sent to the Department via pouch.
2. (SBU) INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF LETTER FROM FM MORATINOS TO
THE SECRETARY:
Begin text:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Minister and Cooperation
Ms. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
SIPDIS
United States of America
Madrid, November 15, 2005
Dear Condi:
First I want to express my satisfaction over the positive
development in relations between Spain and the United States
of America in recent months. This is undoubtedly due to the
efforts and attention you and your team at the Department of
State have devoted to these relations.
The Spanish Government has also made great efforts to promote
relations between our two countries. Our working meeting on
last April 15th in Washington was followed by visits by the
Spanish Ministers of Interior, Justice, Defense, Education
and Science, and Industry, Trade and Tourism, and meetings
between senior officials of our two countries on regional
issues in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, North Africa
and Latin America. In the fight against terrorism and
organized crime, along with signing agreements on mutual
legal assistance, extradition and customs cooperation, we
have also agreed to establish operational working groups
between our two countries, respective services.
Spain and the United States have also increased their
cooperation in areas of crisis, such as Bosnia, Kosovo,
Afghanistan, and more recently in NATO,s operations to aid
Pakistan. Last September, Spain took charge of a Provincial
Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan in the framework of ISAF.
The Spanish Government confirms its full commitment in the
Atlantic Alliance,s effort to promote peace and well-being
for the Afghan people.
My Government agrees with the U.S. Government on the need to
promote economic and political reforms in countries in the
Middle East and North Africa. I am very pleased to have
participated in the recent meeting of the Forum for the
Future in Bahrain and that Spain is actively collaborating in
the creation of the Foundation for the Future. I am also
pleased that the United States Government has stated its
intent to participate in the Alliance of Civilizations
initiative that the Governments of Spain and Turkey are
jointly sponsoring.
I therefore feel that regular consultations between the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Secretary
of State are very important to continue promoting our
relations and our collaboration. I am therefore pleased to
invite you to make an official visit to Spain, if possible
during the first quarter of 2006, whenever your schedule
permits, in order to continue such consultations. Your
presence in our country would undoubtedly send a clear
message of the firm desire of the United States and Spain to
cooperate in solidarity as allies and friends.
Warm regards.
Yours (illegible) (handwritten)
Miguel
Miguel Angel Moratinos
End text.
AGUIRRE