[Australia]: Message to Spain [SEC=SECRET]

[Owen]

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MINISTER FOR DEFENCE​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

4 January 2004

Dear Ms. Robles, The Australian Government has made it a priority to develop defence relations with many countries around the world, but has highlighted Spain as a potential high-level partner in defence procurement. Spain maintains a state-of-the-art defence shipbuilding industry which could be extremely beneficial to Australia. We have been looking at many Navantia products to meet the defence needs of Australia. The relationship between Australia and Spain goes back to well before Australia even had any European colonies established in it through the Spanish explorer Luis Vaz de Torres, to which the Torres Strait is now named after. Today, there are now 123,000 Australians of Spanish descent. I would be glad to make an official visit to Spain to discuss defence cooperation, particularly when it comes to naval procurement. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Senator John Faulkner.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Zak

 

[Zak]

Ministry of Defence
Security Classification: ENCRYPTED​

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Dear Senator John Faulkner,

I am delighted and deeply honored to receive your email, I apologise for the delay in getting back to you. You are correct in Navantia being a state-of-the-art defence shipbuilding industry and it is now becoming globally recognised within the industry. I would be delighted to host you and Ambassador Susan Tanner here in Madrid if you also wish for her to be in attendance.

I look forward to hearing from you promptly.

Regards,
Margarita Robles
Minister of Defence
Kingdom of Spain

Owen

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[Owen]

​

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

4 January 2004

Dear Ms. Robles, I shall be departing shortly on a chartered flight to Madrid. I will be accompanied by our Minister for Defence Material and Science, The Honourable Greg Combet, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, and our Ambassador in Spain. Yours sincerely, Senator John Faulkner.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

The Ministers and the Vice Admiral would depart on a chartered Qantas 747 to Madrid with a stopover in Singapore. This was because the RAAF was having delays in procuring VIP aircraft. RAAF personnel would still accompany them on their flight.

Zak

 

[Owen]

With the arrival of the Dassault Falcon 7X, but the 737BBJ being held up by the American authorities, a Dassault Falcon 7X would depart from RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra and head towards Madrid to be the Minister's official aircraft and relieve the Qantas aircraft. It would stop in Dubai for refuelling. Once it arrived in Madrid the Qantas 747 would be relieved of its duties and return to service in the Qantas fleet. The Minister's would still be waiting at Madrid Airport for their Spanish counterparts. The Ambassador to Spain would also be there with them.

​

Zak

 

[Owen]

Zak

 

[Owen]

The Minister of Defence, Minister for Defence Material and Science and the Chief of Navy would have to leave Spain due to the evolving situation in New Caledonia. The RAAF Dassault Falcon 7X that had been sent there would take them from Madrid to Dubai and then back to Canberra via Perth. They would be quickly taken by motorcade back to their Canberra residences and would be asked to make attendance at the Cabinet Room for the National Security Committee.