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C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000780 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR JUDY ANSLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SP IR RS WI MO AG AE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT FELIPE 
GONZALEZ 
 
 
Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre for 
reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Former Spanish President Felipe Gonzalez told 
Ambassador Aguirre March 24 that the ETA ceasefire represents 
the "best chance ever" for ending ETA violence once and for 
all.  Gonzalez, still one of the leading luminaries of the 
Spanish Socialist Party, but not in the inner circle of 
current Spanish President Zapatero, claimed the opportunity 
for peace with ETA now is more realistic than during the 
14-month truce ETA implemented in 1998-1999, during the Aznar 
administration.  Gonzalez emphasized that this was 
"information, not opinion" and stressed this was an historic 
opportunity.  Gonzalez said that Zapatero was "playing it 
right," and that Zapatero has said that if ETA comes forward 
with more specific ideas, Zapatero would be prepared to ask 
Parliament this summer for approval to begin negotiations. 
Gonzalez told the Ambassador that the government is also 
working hard on the key issue of providing funding/living 
expenses for the families of imprisoned ETA terrorists. 
 
¶2. (C) On Iran, Gonzalez claimed that Putin, probably during 
his recent visit to Madrid, had told him that Russia would 
agree to enrich Iranian uranium in return for spent fuel. 
Gonzalez asserted that Putin had also told him that Russia 
would work to get G-8 agreement to guarantee non-aggression 
against Iran if Iran agreed to the deal.  Gonzalez claimed 
that he is in contact with the President of Iran and "major 
Ayatollahs" on this issue. 
 
¶3. (C) Gonzalez also discussed the Maghreb, particularly 
Western Sahara, saying that at this stage there is little 
hope for resolution.  But, Gonzalez asserted, the Moroccans 
are "honest players," in contrast, he said, to the Algerians 
who are not.  Echoing the Zapatero government, he urged a 
more visible and active US role on the Sahara issue.  The 
Ambassador said the time was not right for such a role and if 
there would be a time in the future, the goal must be finite 
and achievable.  Ambassador Aguirre also explained that as 
President Bush neared the end of his term of office, he would 
not want to renew engagement and then leave unfinished 
business. 
 
¶4. (C) Ambassador Aguirre conveyed greetings from former 
President Bush, who had recently met with Gonzalez while they 
were guests of the current President of Panama.  He thanked 
Gonzalez for meeting with WHA A/S Tom Shannon during 
Shannon's recent visit to Madrid.  Gonzalez agreed the visit 
was useful and noted that for both Spain and the US the issue 
of Cuba and its eventual transition offered great 
opportunities and great risks. 
 
¶5. (C) During the course of the meeting, Gonzalez freely 
acknowledged to the Ambassador that he has been on the 
margins of the Zapatero government, but as Zapatero has 
become more confident in his role, he is becoming more 
willing to listen to his advice and that of other previous 
major party figures. 
 
¶6. (C) Gonzalez claimed to the Ambassador that Secretary Rice 
had "reached out to him" and suggested that he meet with her. 
 He also said that this discussion with her was not 
orchestrated through the Zapatero government. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment: Former President Gonzalez is well regarded by 
PSOE stalwarts, who would like to see him more involved in a 
role similar to an elder statesman working alongside current 
PSOE leaders.  No doubt Gonzalez has an excellent grasp of 
world issues particularly those involving Latin America and 
maintains contacts with many world leaders, current and 
former that would be helpful to Zapatero,s government. The 
question is how extensively Zapatero and company will use 
him.  The Ambassador plans to meet with Gonzalez 
periodically; from our perspective, Gonzalez is a useful 
interlocutor but clearly has his own agenda as he deals with 
various international issues -- which sometimes coincides 
with ours but at times does not. 
AGUIRRE