Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 5422 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
QA
YM YI YE

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BARCELONA86, GENERALITAT TO OPEN OFFICIAL "DELEGATION" IN NEW YORK CITY

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #08BARCELONA86.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BARCELONA86 2008-09-10 18:06 2010-12-16 12:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Barcelona
VZCZCXRO9990
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHLA #0086 2541851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101851Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL BARCELONA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1022
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0982
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0015
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 1190
UNCLAS BARCELONA 000086

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE (SAMSON)
STATE ALSO FOR IO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP
SUBJECT: GENERALITAT TO OPEN OFFICIAL "DELEGATION" IN NEW YORK CITY

1. (U) SUMMARY: The Catalan regional government plans to open
an official "delegation" in New York city as early as October
30, 2009. Housed in Rockefeller Center, the new offices will
bring together the various Catalan entities in the city under
one roof and will be coordinated by a representative from
Catalonia. In doing so, Generalitat officials hope to raise the
Catalonia's profile in the United States and Canada, as well as
with UN organizations. Catalonia Vice President Josep
Carod-Rovira is expected to travel to the U.S. to inaugurate the
new office. End summary.

2. (U) Roser Clavell, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs told
CG September 9 the Generalitat (Catalonia's regional government)
plans to extend its presence abroad this year by opening offices
in New York city. According to Clavell, the new office will
bring together under one roof the various offices the
Generalitat has in the most prominent capital cities in the
world. Who will head the delegation has not yet been decided.
The Generalitat currently has offices in Paris, Berlin,
Brussels, and London. There also plans to open offices in
Buenos Aires and Mexico City, and Morocco. Catalonia has a
number of offices to promote tourism, business, and the Catalan
culture and art.

3. (SBU) Clavell lamented the fact that the world, in her words,
only knows Catalonia through two ways, the diplomatic corps
resident in Barcelona (good) and the national Spanish press (not
so good). Clavell implied the Generalitat was not happy with
its portrayal in the press and wanted to tell its own story.
The new offices are a way of doing just that. The office in New
York will be located at the Rockefeller Center and it is planned
to be opened on October 30. Clavell will accompany Generalitat
VP and Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) President Josep
Carod-Rovira to New York for the inauguration. While being
there, Clavell said officials are hoping to meet with New York
Governor Patterson, participate in the opening of an exhibit on
Catalan painter Joan Miro organized by MOMA, and attend UNESCO's
linguistic university.

4. (SBU) Comment: Despite falling popularity at the polls, ERC
leader Carod-Rovira is pressing ahead with his strategy of
raising Catalonia's flag in the world's major cities. While it
is not at all clear Catalans are happy seeing their taxes go to
expensive offices in the most expensive cities around the world,
especially since officials have recently claimed lack of
resources to cover rising social and educational programs, the
ERC is hoping regional pride will eventually win the day. One
official close to Generalitat President Jose Montilla told CG
recently the President has made the decision to systematically
cut the Vice President's office out of foreign affairs. This
latest move by Carod-Rovira could be a reaction to the
President. Conversely, Carod's decision to open the New York
office might have been the action that caused the President to
decide to start clipping the Vice President's wings. End
Comment.

ROBINSON