Cablegate: Spain On Imso Director Election

VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2162 2421422
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301422Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0615
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0199
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS MADRID 002162

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, IO/T (LAURENCE TOBEY) AND EB/CIP/TS
(DOUGLAS MAY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ECPS EWWT KHLS INMARSAT IMO EU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN ON IMSO DIRECTOR ELECTION

REF: SECSTATE 140757

1. This is an action request for IO/T and EB/CIP/TS - see
para 4.

2. ESTHOFF passed reftel diplomatic note and candidacy
materials August 30 to MFA Director of Air, Maritime and Land
Cooperation Juan Luis Munoz de Laborde, urging Spain to
support the U.S. candidate for the Directorship of the
International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) in the
event that the Spanish candidate was eliminated from the
competition. De Laborde said that he would pass our request
to the MFA's international candidacies office, which was
awaiting the arrival of a new director. That said, he
confirmed that he was the subject matter expert that would
guide the candidacy office's formal response and he stated
that our request "was reasonable."

3. Post will report any further contact we have with either
De Laborde or the MFA candidacy office. In the meantime, we
will also contact the Spanish Industry Ministry POC provided
in reftel and report his reaction.

4. COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: The Spanish may request a
similar commitment from the U.S. In other words, they may
ask for the U.S. to support their candidate in the event that
the U.S. candidate is eliminated prior to the Spaniard. Post
requests Department guidance regarding how to respond to any
such Spanish offer.
AGUIRRE

© Scoop Media