VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLO #2218 2421255
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 291255Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9617
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1237
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 002218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/RPM SHINAGEL; 
USNATO FOR BAEZ 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018 
TAGS: NATO PREL PGOV MARR UK
SUBJECT: UK PERSPECTIVE ON NATO MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE 
SOFA: "SOME COUNTRIES NEED A LEGALLY BINDING TREATY" REF: STATE 92323 

Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) HMG is fully aware of U.S. opposition to a proposed multilateral and reciprocal Mediterranean Dialogue SOFA, but apparently "some countries need a legally binding treaty for their constitutional purposes -- and there does not seem to be flexibility" on this point, Kevin Rooke, a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) NATO Team told Poloff August 29. Given that the FCO's lawyers have concluded that the positions of the U.S. and some other countries are "poles apart" on this matter, "perhaps the U.S. could have an Exchange of Letters while other countries agree to some sort of multilateral agreement along the lines of a SOFA," Rooke suggested. Such an arrangement would avoid a labyrinth of bilateral arrangements and, Rooke continued, the FCO's "legal experts say there is no legal block to the U.S. having its own agreements." Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
LEBARON