

Currently released so far... 13368 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AEMR
AMGT
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
AJ
AF
AFIN
AS
AM
AFFAIRS
AA
ADM
ALOW
ACOA
ATRN
AID
AND
APER
ADANA
APEC
ADPM
ADCO
ABLD
AADP
AG
ARF
AMED
AY
AORG
ASEAN
ABUD
AROC
AE
AO
AL
APCS
AGAO
AINF
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ASUP
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASIG
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
AN
AIT
ANET
AGMT
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BA
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BK
BL
BH
BM
BTIO
BP
BO
BE
BILAT
BC
BX
BIDEN
BF
BBSR
BT
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CD
CV
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CM
CONS
CW
CN
CDC
CT
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTRY
CBE
CIVS
COPUOS
CARSON
CTR
COUNTER
COM
CR
CFED
CKGR
CHR
CVR
CLINTON
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CIC
CITT
CAFTA
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CAC
CL
CACS
CAPC
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EU
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ELTN
EIND
EZ
EI
ER
ET
EINT
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EXIM
ES
ECONOMY
ERNG
ELECTIONS
ENERG
EK
EPA
ENGR
ETRC
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ELN
EAIDS
ECA
EFTA
EINVEFIN
EUREM
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EFINECONCS
ECOSOC
ETC
ENVR
EAP
EINN
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
ESA
EAIG
EUR
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ENNP
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
GM
GG
GERARD
GT
GA
GR
GTIP
GLOBAL
GV
GH
GL
GOV
GOI
GF
GTMO
GANGS
GCC
GAERC
GE
GZ
GAZA
GY
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
IV
IMF
IBRD
INDO
IWC
IRAQI
ISRAELI
ITALY
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
ICAO
ITRA
IPR
INMARSAT
ID
ICRC
INTERNAL
IIP
IRS
ICTY
IQ
IO
ICJ
ILC
IEFIN
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
INRB
IAHRC
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IL
IACI
IDA
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ITF
INRA
INRO
IBET
INTELSAT
IDP
ICTR
IRC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KOMC
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KPAO
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KMDR
KTER
KSPR
KV
KTFN
KWMN
KFRD
KSTH
KS
KN
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KMOC
KCIP
KTDB
KBIO
KU
KSTC
KICC
KIRC
KSEO
KSAF
KR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KIRF
KOCI
KMPI
KCRCM
KNUC
KIDE
KPAONZ
KHLS
KPRP
KHDP
KNUP
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KNAR
KWAC
KJUST
KTBT
KBCT
KNPP
KO
KBTS
KSCI
KACT
KFSC
KENV
KAWK
KHSA
KPRV
KVIR
KCFE
KX
KVRP
KCOM
KAID
KPWR
KTLA
KMFO
KNNPMNUC
KNDP
KMRS
KERG
KPOA
KRCM
KCFC
KNEI
KCHG
KPLS
KREL
KFTFN
KTFM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KRAD
KBTR
KGIT
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KREC
KIFR
KSAC
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KFPC
KRIM
KDDG
KCGC
KPAI
KID
KMIG
KNSD
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
ML
MR
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MAS
MO
MTCR
MIL
MAPP
MG
MD
MAR
MZ
MU
MP
MA
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MW
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MARAD
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MEDIA
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MPS
MC
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NG
NL
NU
NPT
NS
NA
NATIONAL
NSF
NDP
NR
NSSP
NP
NIPP
NGO
NAS
NE
NZUS
NH
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NEW
NRR
NT
NASA
NAR
NK
NOVO
NATOPREL
NSC
NV
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
OPRC
ODC
OIIP
OPDC
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OEXC
OPAD
ODIP
OPCW
OIE
OFDP
OFFICIALS
OHUM
OSCI
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
OVP
ON
OCII
OES
OCS
OIC
PGOV
PREL
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PPA
PCI
PAS
PALESTINIAN
PROP
PTE
PA
PAIGH
PO
PROG
PJUS
POLITICAL
PMIL
PGOF
PDOV
PSI
PG
PRAM
PREO
PARMS
PAO
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PP
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PNAT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PEDRO
PF
PHUS
PTBS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PINL
PBT
PINF
PRL
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PROV
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RICE
RM
REGION
RO
ROOD
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RUPREL
REMON
REACTION
REPORT
RSO
SZ
SENV
SOCI
SNAR
SY
SO
SP
SU
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SCUL
SG
SW
SR
SYRIA
SPECIALIST
SEN
SC
SF
SL
SAARC
SNARIZ
SARS
STEINBERG
SCRS
SWE
SN
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SEVN
SHUM
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SNARN
SIPRS
TRGY
TBIO
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TP
TW
TZ
TF
TN
TC
TL
TV
TS
TT
TK
TD
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
TBID
THPY
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
USTR
UZ
USEU
UV
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
UY
USPS
UNHRC
USUN
UNESCO
UNCHR
UNHCR
USNC
UNEP
USOAS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNO
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
UNCHC
UNCSD
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
UNCND
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10MADRID86, AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 25 CALL ON
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10MADRID86.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10MADRID86 | 2010-01-26 18:10 | 2010-12-24 21:30 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Madrid |
VZCZCXRO8444
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHMD #0086/01 0261810
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261810Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1762
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 4322
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MADRID 000086
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EEB/TPP/IPE, EEB/IFD/OIA, EEB/TRA/AN
STATE PASS USTR FOR D.WEINER
COMMERCE FOR 4212/DON CALVERT
ENERGY FOR PIA/K.BALLOU AND EERE/D.BIRNS
TREASURY FOR OIA/OEE/R.JOHNSTON AND OTP/M.CORWIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ECON EINV ENRG KIPR SP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT'S JANUARY 25 CALL ON
INDUSTRY/TOURISM/COMMERCE MINISTER SEBASTIAN
REF: A. MADRID 80
ΒΆB. MADRID 67
MADRID 00000086 001.3 OF 004
Summary
-------
1.(SBU) On January 25, Minister Sebastian and the Ambassador
emphasized their desire to work together to strengthen
bilateral business and economic ties. State Secretary Ros
reviewed his January 20-21 Washington meetings on
intellectual property rights and the status of proposed
legislation to combat internet piracy. The Minister
encouraged the Ambassador to engage the Madrid regional
government president on internet piracy. The Ambassador
emphasized the importance he placed on favorable GOS
consideration of two proposed solar electricity investments;
Sebastian and State Secretary Marin explained that it would
be difficult for the GOS to approve the SolarReserve project,
but the Minister promised to take another look. The
Ambassador suggested considering how to integrate President
Zapatero's goal of a bilateral economic and investment forum
into the existing U.S.-Spain Forum. A Foreign Trade
Institute official agreed to check on the status of the
Spanish treasury's response to a U.S. Treasury letter on
renegotiating our bilateral income tax treaty. Minister
Sebastian also asked for help getting information from
General Motors on the company's plans for Opel. He noted the
GOS, strong interest in hosting a U.S.-EU summit during
Spain,s EU presidency, cited concerns by Spanish
infrastructure companies over Buy American restrictions, and
raised the Iberia/One World Alliance application for
antitrust immunity for the Iberia-BA merger. End Summary.
2.(U) The Ambassador paid an introductory call on Spanish
Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce Miguel Sebastian
on January 25. Sebastian was accompanied by Secretary of
State (deputy minister) for Telecommunications and the
Information Society Francisco Ros, Secretary of State for
energy Pedro Marin, Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX) CEO Angel
Martin-Acebes, and two staffers. The Ambassador was
accompanied by the economic and commercial counselors. The
Ambassador opened by referring to his January 22 meeting with
President Zapatero (ref A) and the importance he placed on
strengthening business ties between the two countries.
Internet Piracy
---------------
3.(SBU) The Ambassador highlighted the difficulties faced by
the U.S. movie and recording industry in Spain as a result of
internet piracy. He acknowledged that some thought the
Special 301 process was unfair but stressed that the issue
needed to be addressed. He emphasized the USG,s desire to
help address the problem (though he did not want to take a
position on details of the legislation) and said that he had
met the previous week with the head of the opposition Popular
Party (PP) (ref B) to encourage a constructive approach.
State Secretary Ros indicated that it would be helpful for
the Ambassador to continue to encourage the PP.
4.(SBU) Minister Sebastian noted that immediately upon taking
office in 2008 he had met with the Ambassador's predecessor,
who had told him Spain had been placed on the Watch List.
Since that time, the GOS had made considerable progress on
two of the issues that had been cited at the time, illegal
software and street sales of counterfeit products.
5.(SBU) On the third (comment: and most important) issue,
unauthorized internet downloads of movies and music,
Sebastian said that many Spaniards thought the "digital
canon" private copy levy on recording instruments and media
gave them the right to download whatever they wanted. In
addition, going after individual users was difficult for the
GOS, which did not want to jeopardize families, access to
the internet just because one member downloaded unauthorized
items. He said the GOS had gotten the ISP association to
negotiate with the Coalition of content providers. He
described the political tension around the issue, saying the
GOS considered unfair both the MPAA's claim that it was
overly permissive and the PP's and the internet users groups'
claim that it was almost as repressive on internet issues as
Iran or China or Cuba. The Minister called "very worrisome"
MADRID 00000086 002.3 OF 004
the PP's initial reaction to the government's first
legislative proposal. He was particularly concerned that the
Madrid regional government had been organizing meetings with
internet users. He understood the national party seeking
political advantage, but he was concerned about the
institutional aspects of the regional government getting
involved, and he said it would be helpful if the Ambassador
could encourage the regional president to stop. The
Ambassador agreed to raise the issue when he meets with the
regional president.
6.(SBU) Secretary Ros said that in his meetings in Washington
the previous week, Spain's efforts had been generally very
well received. The software companies were "fine," and the
movie industry was also "happy." However, the music industry
still had problems, acted as if the GOS had done nothing, and
was not patient enough to wait for implementation of the law
as would be necessary. (Comment: The U.S. music industry
says the draft legislation's emphasis on closing websites
will do very little to address direct peer-to-peer (P2P)
filesharing, which is more of a problem for music than for
movies. The GOS says the legislation will have some impact
on P2P filesharing as well.) Ros said everyone was waiting
to see what happened with the draft law, which was now in a
consultation stage that could last a month or a month and a
half. Afterwards it would go to the Congress, where the
government is just short of a majority. If the PP supported
it, it could move quickly. If the PP opposed it and proposed
language changes, it could take longer. Ros also said that
Spain,s problem was like those in other countries and that
fundamentally the industries' business models needed to
change. He and Minister Sebastian both cited the importance
of promoting legal downloads, which the Ministry is seeking
to do.
7.(U) Ros also said his telecoms-related meetings had gone
well and that his interlocutors had agreed to set up working
groups to address issues such as cybersecurity, net
neutrality, and next generation networks.
8.(SBU) Comment: Ros had emphasized in his Washington IPR
meetings the importance of USG engagement with the PP, and
this meeting confirmed the GOS' interest. Post will continue
our efforts to encourage national PP figures to take a
constructive approach toward the GOS' proposed legislation.
We will also engage with the regional government.
Double Taxation Treaty
----------------------
9.(SBU) The Ambassador noted that both he and the Minister
wanted to promote business and jobs in our two countries and
said that one issue companies raised was the need to revise
the bilateral double taxation treaty. The USG was awaiting a
response to a letter that had been sent from Treasury's tax
negotiating office to its Spanish counterparts. Minister
Sebastian said his ministry often pushed the issue with
Spain,s treasury. Martin-Acebes said the treasury was
working on a response, and he agreed to the Ambassador's
request that he look into the issue and let us know when a
response might be ready.
Strengthening Business Ties
---------------------------
10.(U) The Ambassador and the Minister emphasized their joint
interest in strengthening U.S.-Spain business ties.
Sebastian had traveled to the U.S. four times in 2009, and he
described his involvement in the launch of the "Made in
Spain, Made by Spain" awareness campaign in the U.S. The
Ambassador noted President Zapatero's interest in a US-Spain
investment and economic forum he had proposed during his
October visit to the White House. Martin-Acebes said the
presidency was working on the idea. The Ambassador
recommended considering how to integrate Zapatero's goals
into the existing U.S.-Spain Council and U.S.-Spain Forum,
which benefited from the commitment of Senator Menendez and
others. The Minister expressed concern about the
multiplication of different business groups that did not talk
to each other, citing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Spain
(AmCham) and the American Business Council. He said that
MADRID 00000086 003.3 OF 004
adding a new forum/council would be difficult.
U.S. Companies' Solar Power Projects
------------------------------------
11.(U) In emphasizing the importance he places on
strengthening the bilateral economic relationship in order to
create jobs, the Ambassador noted that Spanish companies were
the largest recipients in the U.S. of stimulus funding for
renewable energy projects. He said the USG was glad to
promote these investments, which resulted in U.S. jobs. He
also wanted favorable consideration of U.S. companies,
proposed investments in Spain. He mentioned two planned
solar thermal electricity investments by U.S. companies,
saying that both were important symbolically as well as for
the direct amounts of investment and jobs they would bring.
The investment by Florida Power and Light subsidiary NextEra
now appeared to be in good shape and would be the largest new
U.S. investment in Spain in several years. It would be an
example of the two governments' shared confidence in
renewable energy.
12.(SBU) A greater concern was the difficulties faced by a
large project by SolarReserve that was important both in
terms of economic activity and technology development.
Minister Sebastian responded by explaining how the GOS had
seen a bubble develop in solar photovoltaic electricity
projects in 2008 and was seeing one in solar thermal projects
in 2009. In both cases, far more companies had applied to
build projects and receive the generous guaranteed feed-in
tariffs than the GOS had expected, and the result was going
to be very expensive to consumers for many years. He noted
that the GOS had changed its registration process to burst
these bubbles, and that many Spanish companies were very
upset with the GOS for doing so.
13.(SBU) Secretary of State Marin said Solar Reserve had
presented its application in December, several months after
the May 6 deadline, and that the original GOS target had been
500 MW of projects but that the GOS had allowed 2,500 MW to
be scheduled between now and 2013. The GOS could not predict
now what the guaranteed feed-in tariff would be after 2013
because it would have to see how the technology evolved,
though the tariff certainly would be lower. It would be
difficult for the GOS to allow Solar Reserve to "jump the
queue" ahead of all the other companies (Sebastian said
"thousands of megawatts") that had applied between May and
December. Marin also noted that the company was seeking
authorization for a larger project than the 50 MW allowed by
the GOS decree-law. He added that the company's interest in
using an alternative provision of the existing royal decree
could not be accommodated because of overall capacity limits.
He commented that the GOS had authorized much new renewables
capacity at a time when overall electricity demand was
falling, and there might not be demand for new capacity for a
while.
14.(SBU) The Ambassador acknowledged Sebastian's and Marin's
comments. He noted that the company was willing to accept a
tariff that was significantly lower than the tariff other
companies were receiving (note: this is a condition of the
alternate legal route) and urged the Minister and the
Secretary to look at the company's arguments again and see if
anything could be done. He said the USG interest was partly
in business terms and partly because of the symbolic
importance. Marin noted that his team had met with company
officials recently and that he was familiar with their
arguments.
Other Issues
------------
15.(SBU) Minister Sebastian asked for help getting
information from General Motors about the company's plans for
Opel (which has a factory in Zaragoza province). He said the
company was keeping the British government informed, but that
the GOS had to learn about developments in the press.
Sebastian had been pleased with GM's decision to keep Opel
but wanted more information, or at least as much as the
British were getting.
MADRID 00000086 004.3 OF 004
16.(SBU) Minister Sebastian said Spanish infrastructure
companies were concerned about Buy America legislative
provisions. Upon being questioned by the Ambassador,
Martin-Acebes could not come up with an example of a Spanish
investment that had been prevented because of national
government restrictions. He instead cited a Texas state
action and general concern by construction companies about
state and local actions, adding that the perception could
become a deterrent to investment. Commercial counselor noted
that Spanish infrastructure companies were doing very well in
the U.S. and that the CAF railroad car manufacturer had
recently reached an agreement; the company would do more
manufacturing in the U.S. than it had originally envisioned,
but it appeared to be satisfied. The Ambassador noted that
the Embassy could address a perception of barriers by
highlighting the success Spanish companies were having in the
U.S.
17.(SBU) Minister Sebastian noted GOS concern about the One
World Alliance's application for anti-trust immunity for the
BA-Iberia airline merger. He also noted the GOS' strong
interest in having a U.S.-EU summit in Madrid during Spain's
EU presidency. He added that he expected the Defense
Minister (whom the Ambassador saw the next day) to raise the
interest of the Spanish company EADS-Casa (Airbus Military)
in the revised DOD tender for new refueling tanker aircraft.
Comment
-------
18.(SBU) Minister Sebastian was clearly interested in
establishing a productive relationship with the Ambassador.
Sebastian made a point of assuring the Ambassador as the
meeting broke up that his ministry "would try" on Solar
Reserve but that it would be very difficult. Another sign of
the importance he placed on the relationship was the presence
in the meeting of two deputy ministers, an agency head, and
two other staffers, many more than usually attend such
meetings.
SOLOMONT