Cablegate: Spain's Stance On Joining and Contributing to A

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #1804 2602043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 172043Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3438
INFO RUEHSS/OECD POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MADRID 001804

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

S/P FOR JEAN GERAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SP OECD EAID EUN
SUBJECT: SPAIN'S STANCE ON JOINING AND CONTRIBUTING TO A
PARTNERSHIP FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

REF: STATE 108794

1. (SBU) On September 13, MFA's Deputy Director for
Multilateral Economic Issues Juan Luis Munoz de Laborde told
EconOff that Spain would postpone joining or contributing
financially to the Partnership for Democratic Governance
(PDG) until it became clearer what role and form the fledging
organization would take. Munoz de Laborde said that in
concept Spain was in favor of the proposal and had been one
its supporters in the OECD for the July 12 vote to establish
the organization. However, he repeated, the GOS was not
inclined to pledge funding nor join the organization until
the GOS has a better sense of how the organization would
materialize in its implementation.

2. (SBU) In support of the PDG, Econoff noted that
contributing financially or joining the PDG would allow Spain
the opportunity to play a role in developing the
organization's identity and direction. EconOff explained
that the US and the PDG steering group partners would roll
out the PDG at the margin of this year's UN General Assembly
meeting. EconOff added that Spain's support would contribute
to the success of this rollout and the program's efforts to
assist emerging democracies build governance capacity. Munoz
de Laborde expressed appreciation for these and other reftel
points and agreed to continue the dialogue on this initiative.

AGUIRRE

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