WikiLeaks: Hindering Spain-Cuba Relations, a U.S. Priority

WikiLeaks: Hindering Spain-Cuba Relations, a U.S. Priority: "The United States took advantage of alleged disagreements among Spanish diplomats to hamper relations between Spain and Cuba, according to U.S. embassy cables released by the WikiLeaks website.

Preventing an improvement in relations between Spain and Cuba during 2006 and 2007 period was 'the priority' of Eduador Aguirre, the U.S. ambassador to Spain at the time, El Pais newspaper reported on Friday, based on the classified documents posted by WikiLeaks.

Aguirre and his subordinates focused on that goal shortly after learning that the Spanish foreign minister at that time, Miguel Angel Moratinos, was preparing a trip to Havana, the first by a Spanish foreign minister in nine years, El Pais reported.

In February 2007, the former Secretary of State for Ibero-America, Trinidad Jimenez (now Foreign Minister), confirmed to Hugo Llorens, Deputy Chief of Mission of the American embassy in Madrid, that the trip by Moratinos to Cuba was being considered, though without a date.

Llorens said the visit to Cuba would be useless and could be considered in Washington as a break with their common stance on Cuba, so he urged the Secretary of State to closely consult it with the American embassy.

Several secret cables sent by Aguirre to his superiors at the U.S. Department of State talked about a 'rivalry' between Moratinos and Jimenez, which started after Jimenez became a diplomat in 2006.

Llorens also reiterated to Rafael Dezcallar, Spanish general director of Foreign Policy, that a visit to Cuba by Moratinos could send 'the wrong message.'"

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