

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
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
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
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
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
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07MADRID173, SPAIN/CIA FLIGHTS: JUDGE ORDERS DECLASSIFICATION
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. #07MADRID173.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07MADRID173 | 2007-02-01 17:43 | 2010-12-02 12:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid |
VZCZCXRO5212
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHMD #0173/01 0321743
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011743Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1746
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0062
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2404
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MADRID 000173
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER PINR SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/CIA FLIGHTS: JUDGE ORDERS DECLASSIFICATION
OF INFO RELATED TO FLIGHTS
REF: A. 2006 MADRID 3104
¶B. 2006 MADRID 2657
¶C. 2006 MADRID 2374
¶D. 2006 MADRID 1799
MADRID 00000173 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
¶1. (C) Summary. National Court Examining Magistrate Ismael
Moreno requested on January 31 that the Spanish Ministry of
Defense and the National Intelligence Center (CNI) declassify
any information related to the transit of CIA aircraft
through Spanish territory, as well as any information
indicating whether Spanish airports were used for the
transfer of detainees in other countries. In a related
action, Judge Moreno denied a motion by the plaintiffs to
require the current and former heads of the CNI to testify in
the case, as well as a second motion by the plaintiffs to
name as suspects the 13 U.S. persons listed in the
investigation. In an unusual demonstration of bipartisan
accord, both the ruling Socialist (PSOE) and opposition
Popular Party (PP) Parliamentarians expressed support for the
declassification of the requested documents. The National
Court prosecutor handling the CIA flights case told Legat
that the prosecutors would not seek to block the request for
declassified information because it was understood by Spanish
authorities that neither the CNI nor the MOD held any
incriminating or sensitive information related to the
flights. The prosecutor said that the release of the little
information they did have would do no harm and said that the
Spanish Government would not seek additional information from
the USG related to this case. We are less concerned by the
immediate importance of any declassified information from the
CNI or MOD than by the apparent coordination between Judge
Moreno in Spain and German investigators in the El Masri
case. Spanish media reported January 31 and February 1 that
German investigators used information from Spanish news
sources and from the Spanish Civil Guard in ordering the
detention of 13 "CIA members" on charges of abduction and
bodily harm. The plaintiffs and extreme left political
parties will work together to keep this issue on the front
burner in Spain. End Summary.
//JUDGE REQUESTS DECLASSIFICATION OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION//
¶2. (U) Judge Moreno approved requests by the plaintiffs in
the CIA flights case, the "Free Association of Attorneys" and
a group of Mallorcan professionals, calling for the
declassification of any information held by the CNI or the
MOD related to the transit of alleged CIA aircraft through
the airports of Tenerife, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de
Mallorca, and others. According to reports, the Spanish
judicial investigation is focused on the following flights:
- Algiers to Palma to Skopje on January 22, 2004
- Guantanamo to Tenerife to Constanza, Romania on April 12,
2004, and
- Madrid to Luxor, Egypt on December 16, 2003.
In his request to the MOD, Judge Moreno asks for a report on
"whether Spanish airports were used in the alleged events
described in Council of Europe Report 10957 of June 12, 2006"
related to the detentions of 12 alleged terrorists: Jaled El
Masri, Ahmed Agiza, Mohammed al Zary, Hasam Usama, Mustafa
Nasr (Abu Omar), Bisher al Rawi, Yamil El Banna, Masher Arar,
Mohamed Bashmila, Salah Ali Qaru, Mohammed Zammar, and Binyam
Mohammed.
¶3. (U) Judge Moreno denied motions by the plaintiffs
demanding that the 13 U.S. persons accused by the plaintiffs
of abduction and torture (REF A) be formally named as
suspects. Moreno said that he would not do so because the
identities of the crew of the Boeing 737, tail number N313P,
had not been firmly established. He also denied a
plaintiff's motion requiring the testimony in the case of CNI
Director Alberto Saiz as well as his predecessor Jorge
Dezcallar (brother of MFA Director General for Foreign Policy
Rafael Dezcallar). This request by the plaintiffs stems from
a November 28, 2001 meeting between President Bush and
then-President Aznar, after which Aznar reportedly declared
that "all of the mechanisms for cooperation in intelligence
operations" were in place. Shortly thereafter, on December
11, the first alleged CIA flight through Spanish territory
MADRID 00000173 002.2 OF 003
took place.
¶4. (U) Judge Moreno also set aside a request by the
plaintiffs for the testimony of the former Council of Europe
human rights commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles (on the grounds
that Gil-Robles' reports on a detention center in Kosovo had
not led to any conclusive police investigations) and the
testimony of "El Pais" journalist Jose Maria Irujo, who has
followed the CIA flights case as well as Islamic extremism in
Spain. Judge Moreno indicated that his decisions on all of
these issues (the naming of the 13 persons as suspects,
requiring the testimony of CNI directors, and calling of
additional witnesses) could be revisited by him or by a panel
of trial judges if new information emerged to support the
plaintiffs' case.
//BIPARTISAN POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR DECLASSIFICATION//
¶5. (U) Politicians weighed in quickly on the decision, with
ruling center-left PSOE and opposition center-right PP
Parliamentarians voicing their support for the
declassification of the relevant MOD and CNI records. PSOE
Foreign Relations Commission Spokesperson Fatima Aburto said
all documents should be declassified that pointed to any
"illegal act that may have taken place in Spain." Aburto
said that the focus should be on whether the aircraft in
question had "illegally detained persons" aboard and said
that the Zapatero Government would review its files to
determine whether any such incriminating information was
available that could assist in the investigation. Aburto
said that documents that information indicating that a USG
aircraft had made a stopover in Spain and then participated
in an illegal act in a third country "should not be
declassified, because such actions would not constitute the
commission of an illegal act in Spain." She stressed the
PSOE's dedication to deal with this issue in a transparent
manner and said that the results of Spanish Government
inquiries to the USG on this matter did not indicate that any
crime had been committed.
¶6. (U) PP Foreign Relations Commission Spokesperson Gustavo
Aristegui said that he supported the declassification of any
relevant documents if they demonstrated the commission of an
illegal act and if their release did not undermine the
counter-terrorist operations. Aristegui said that democratic
countries could not "resort to any type of illegal methods in
the fight against terrorism" since this would only strengthen
the terrorists. He pointed to Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib as
"errors that should not be repeated."
//PROSECUTOR DISCUSSES CIA FLIGHTS CASE WITH LEGAT//
¶7. (C) The National Court prosecutor handling the CIA flights
case, Vicente Gonzalez Mota (strictly protect), indicated to
Legat that the prosecutors do not intend to request
information on this case from the Embassy or from the USG in
general. He said that the National Court prosecutors did not
impede Judge Moreno's request to declassify the MOD or CNI
records because it was clear that those records did not
contain any incriminating or even particularly sensitive
information. (NOTE: Vicente Gonzalez Mota is also the
principal liaison to the Embassy for the Bilateral Counter
Terrorism Experts Working Group. END NOTE). A January 31
news report indicates that Gonzalez Mota filed a judcicial
assistance request to Swiss authorities for any information
(NFI) gathered by prosecutors in Bern that might have a
bearing on the Spanish CIA flights investigation.
//CONFLUENCE OF SPANISH-GERMAN INVESTIGATIONS//
¶8. (C) Spanish media reported widely on the detention order
filed by German prosecutor Christian Schmidt-Sommerfeld
against "13 alleged CIA members" for involvement in the
"abduction and bodily harm" of German citizen Haled El Masri.
Press reports indicate that German investigators obtained
the 13 names from the Spanish Civil Guard on September 27,
2006 during a visit to Spain by Munich prosecutor Martin
Hoffman. The names had been included in a 2005 report
ordered by a prosecutor in Palma de Mallorca. Some press
reports indicated that while the names were presumed to be
false, the Civil Guard had obtained photographs of at least
three of the individuals from hotel records in Palma. It
appears that Spanish daily "El Pais" also shared some of the
names and other information it had gathered with German
MADRID 00000173 003.2 OF 003
investigators.
//COMMENT//
¶9. (C) Despite the absence of evidence of a crime, or even of
a clear direction in the National Court's CIA flights
investigation, it is clear that the plaintiffs (which in
Spain now include attorneys from the extreme left wing United
Left) plan to keep this issue on the front burner. However,
the most worrisome element of this episode is the joint
timing of the announcemnts by the German prosecutors and
Examining Magistrate in the Spanish CIA flights
investigation, timing that suggests that they are
coordinating to advance the cases in their respective
jurisdictions. This coordination among independent
investigators will complicate our efforts to manage this case
at a discreet government-to-government level. With regard to
the internal political dynamics on this issue, both major
parties will be at pains to demonstrate their commitment to
the rule of law. In spite of its general pro-U.S.
orientation, our experience suggests that the PP will not
hesitate to capitalize on any indication that the Zapatero
Government tolerated or deliberately ignored USG actions that
could be interpreted as possible human rights violations,
even if these revelations reflect badly on the USG.
Aguirre