Cablegate: Spain On International Mobile Satellite

VZCZCXYZ7738
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2340 2611453
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181453Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0778
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0204
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MADRID 002340

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
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 INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SATELLITE
ORGANIZATION (IMSO) DIRECTOR ELECTION

REF: A. SECSTATE 150486

B. MADRID 2162
C. SECSTATE 140757

1. (U) This is an action request -- see paragraph 4

2. (SBU) Ref B reported that Spain, in response to Ref C
request, would likely agree to support the candidacy of
Steven Lett to head the IMSO in the event that the Spanish
candidate for the same position was eliminated prior to Lett.
Ref B predicted that Spain would ask for reciprocity (i.e.,
U.S. support for the Spanish candidate in the event that Lett
was eliminated prior to the Spaniard) and requested guidance
on how to respond. Such guidance was never received.

3. (SBU) On September 13, MFA forwarded to the Embassy a
Note Verbale requesting such reciprocity. What follows is an
informal Embassy translation of the operative part of this
GOS Note Verbale:

"has the honor to request that the U.S. Government support
the candidacy of Mr. Esteban Pacha for the position of
Director of the International Mobile Satellite Organization
(IMSO) in the event that the U.S. candidate for the
aforementioned position, Mr. Steven Lett, were eliminated
prior to Mr. Pacha. In reciprocity, Spain would promise to
support the candidacy of Mr. Lett if during election process,
the Spanish candidate were eliminated first."

4. (U) Action Request: Embassy requests guidance on how to
respond to the Spanish offer. If the U.S. accepts the
Spanish offer, Embassy requests text to be used in the
diplomatic note that would seal the deal.
LLORENS

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