Cablegate: T Letter of Thanks to Spanish Mfa Officials For

VZCZCXYZ0009

OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7361 2001330

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

O 181325Z JUL 08

FM SECSTATE WASHDC

TO AMEMBASSY MADRID IMMEDIATE 0000

UNCLAS STATE 077361

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL SP

SUBJECT: T LETTER OF THANKS TO SPANISH MFA OFFICIALS FOR

PSI 5TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATIONS

REF: STATE 023568

1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: At the Senior-Level Meeting for

all states endorsing the Proliferation Security Initiative

(PSI) held May 28, 2008, in Washington, DC, on the occasion

of the PSI's Fifth Anniversary, two Spanish officials had

formal roles. MFA Director-General for External Policy

Rafael Dezcallar gave a presentation reviewing five

successful years of the PSI during the first session of the

day, on taking stock of the first five years of the PSI. MFA

Department for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament official

Tada Bastida Eizaguirre gave a presentation in the afternoon

on Spain's ratification of the 2005 Protocols to the

Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the

Safety of Maritime Navigation. The PSI Senior-Level Meeting

was attended by representatives of 85 countries, almost all

of the 92 states that have endorsed the PSI.

2. ACTION REQUESTED: Embassy is requested to deliver under

appropriate cover the following letters from Acting Under

Secretary John Rood to MFA Director-General for External

Policy Rafael Dezcallar and MFA Department for

Non-Proliferation and Disarmament official Tada Bastida

Eizaguirre, thanking each of them for their role in the PSI

Fifth Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting. The State Department

does not plan to release the texts of these letters but has

no objection if the Government of Spain wishes to do so.

There will be no signed originals.

3. Begin text of letter to Mr. Dezcallar:

Dear Mr. Dezcallar:

On behalf of the U.S. Government, I want to thank you for

your presentation "PSI 2003-2008: Five Successful Years" in

the opening panel of the May 28, 2008 Senior-Level Meeting of

Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) participants in

Washington DC. Your presentation made an important

contribution to the meeting. This panel was a good way for

the meeting participants to take stock of the first five

years of the PSI, including the views of Spain and several

other key PSI partners.

I believe the PSI Fifth Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting was

very successful in reaffirming the strong commitment of the

PSI partner states to respond to the WMD proliferation

challenge. It also provided the participants from 85

countries an opportunity to strengthen communication with one

another. We hope this event will result in expanded

participation in PSI activities, particularly on a regional

basis. The United States recognizes that Spain plays a

significant role in the PSI, and we greatly appreciate your

Government's continued efforts and contributions to advancing

the PSI goals.

Sincerely,

John C. Rood

Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and

International Security

End text of letter.

4. Begin text of letter to Ms. Bastida Eizaguirre:

Dear Ms. Bastida Eizaguirre:

On behalf of the U.S. Government, I want to thank you for

your presentation "Ratification of the 2005 Protocols to the

SUA Treaties: Paving the Way Forward" at the May 28, 2008

Senior-Level Meeting of Proliferation Security Initiative

(PSI) participants in Washington DC. Your presentation made

a valuable contribution to the meeting, covering one of the

most important additions to the international legal framework

to counter WMD-related trafficking since the PSI was

established. Spain's example as the first signatory state to

ratify the 2005 SUA Protocols is an inspiration to all PSI

partners.