Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME1229
2002-03-08 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

GOI'S REACTION TO THE NEW ZINNI MISSION AND

Tags:  PREL KPAL IS XF US IT UN 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001229 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2012
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS XF US IT UN
SUBJECT: GOI'S REACTION TO THE NEW ZINNI MISSION AND
BERLUSCONI'S MARCH 12 TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA

REF: SECSTATE 44938

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MC TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 01229 081602Z
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001229

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2012
TAGS: PREL KPAL ISRAEL'>IS XF US IT UN
SUBJECT: GOI'S REACTION TO THE NEW ZINNI MISSION AND
BERLUSCONI'S MARCH 12 TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA

REF: SECSTATE 44938

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MC TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 01229 081602Z

1. (C) ON MARCH 8, POL MC AND NEA WATCHER DELIVERED REFTEL
POINTS AND THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO LUCA FERRARI, THE
MFA'S OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS.
POL MC STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE EU AND THE US
SPEAK THE SAME MESSAGE ON THE MEPP: IT'S IMPERATIVE FOR
ARAFAT TO END THE VIOLENCE AND FOR ISRAEL TO ACT IN A MANNER
THAT HELPS RESTORE CALM. POL MC ALSO UNDERLINED THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE EU PUBLICLY SUPPORTING BOTH PARTIES ENDING
THE VIOLENCE AND GOING BACK TO NEGOCIATIONS.


2. (C) FERRARI DESCRIBED GENERAL ZINNI'S RETURN TO THE REGION
AS A "VERY WISE MOVE" ON THE PART OF THE PRESIDENT,
ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE BEIRUT ARAB SUMMIT. THE GOI WOULD BE
FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE THE KIND OF MESSAGE DESCRIBED IN
REFTEL. HE EXPECTED SOLANA TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT FOR
BOTH ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TO END THE VIOLENCE.


3. (C) ON PM AND ACTING FM BERLUSCONI'S MARCH 12 TRIP TO
SAUDI ARABIA, FERRARI SAID THAT BERLUSCONI WAS GOING TO
EXPRESS HIS SUPPORT FOR THE CROWN PRINCE'S PEACE VISION.
HOWEVER, THE PM IS PLANNING TO ASK THE SAUDIS FOR CONCRETE
DETAILS ABOUT THEIR PLAN, ESPECIALLY ON SENSITIVE ISSUES SUCH
AS JERUSALEM, THE REFUGEES, THE BORDER, AND SECURITY
GUARANTEES TO THE ISRAELIS.


4. (C) COMMENT: ITALY REACTED VERY POSITIVELY TO THE RETURN
OF GENERAL ZINNI TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AND WE EXPECT OTHER
EUROPEANS TO HAVE A SIMILAR REACTION. EVEN THOUGH THE
ITALIANS SUPPORT THE SAUDI PEACE VISION, MFA OFFICIALS DO NOT
EXPECT BERLUSCONI TO GET ANY PRECISE AND DETAILED ANSWERS ON
HIS TRIP NEXT WEEK TO SAUDI ARABIA. END COMMENT.
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 01229 081602Z
POPE

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME01229 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL