Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME1769
2002-04-09 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
UNCHR: ITALIANS EXPECT INCREASED U.S. EFFORT TO
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001769
SIPDIS
FOR DRL A/S LORNE CRANER FROM DCM WILLIAM POPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2012
TAGS: PHUM PREL IT US UNHRC
SUBJECT: UNCHR: ITALIANS EXPECT INCREASED U.S. EFFORT TO
CONSULT
REF: A. POPE/CRANER E-MAILS
B. ROME 1556
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE. REASON 1.5 (B),(D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01769 091420Z
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001769
SIPDIS
FOR DRL A/S LORNE CRANER FROM DCM WILLIAM POPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2012
TAGS: PHUM PREL ITALY'>IT US UNHRC
SUBJECT: UNCHR: ITALIANS EXPECT INCREASED U.S. EFFORT TO
CONSULT
REF: A. POPE/CRANER E-MAILS
B. ROME 1556
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE. REASON 1.5 (B),(D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01769 091420Z
1. (C) MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR GIANCARLO ARAGONA IS SCHEDULED
TO MEET YOU 4/11, AFTER ARRIVING IN WASHINGTON 4/10.
ARAGONA'S ROLE WAS INSTRUMENTAL, IF NOT DECISIVE, IN THE
GOI'S DECISION TO POSTPONE ITS UNCHR CANDIDACY AND THEREBY
MAKE WAY FOR THE U.S. TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION IN 2003.
ALTHOUGH NO "DEAL MAKING" WAS INVOLVED, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THE
ITALIANS EXPECT SOMETHING MORE FROM THIS GESTURE THAN AN
ABSTRACT EXPRESSION OF USG APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.
2. (C) A THEME WE FREQUENTLY HEAR IN ROME IS THAT THE USG
DOES NOT TREAT ITALY ON A PAR WITH CERTAIN EU PARTNERS (E.G.,
U.K., GERMANY, FRANCE). THE ITALIANS WOULD LIKE TO BE (AND
TO BE SEEN TO BE) CONSULTED ON MAJOR ISSUES BEFOREHAND. SUCH
CONSULTATION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE ITALIAN VIEWS. AS
IS THE CASE IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL FORA, ITALIAN VIEWS ON
MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION TEND TO BE STRAITJACKETED BY
THE "EU CONSENSUS." HOWEVER, AS NOTED REF B, THE GOI UNDER
PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI CONSIDERS THE ASSERTION OF
NATIONAL INTERESTS WITHIN EU FORUMS TO BE AS LEGITIMATE FOR
ITALY AS IT IS FOR COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY AND FRANCE.
3. (C) UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ADVANCE CONSULTATION
PRESENTS US CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES. WITH THE SHARP
EXCEPTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, WHICH ARAGONA IS LIKELY TO
RAISE, GOI VIEWS ON MATTERS BEFORE THE UNCHR TEND TO BE
PARALLEL OR, AT LEAST, SYMPATHETIC TO OURS. WE STAND TO GAIN
FROM AN INVIGORATED GOI VOICE IN EU COUNCILS THAT HAS ALREADY
HEARD AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT USG VIEWS. AND THERE ALSO WILL
BE OCCASIONS WHEN GOI ADVICE CAN HELP SHAPE FOR THE BETTER
OUR APPROACH TO THE EU AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AT LARGE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 01769 091420Z
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME01769 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
FOR DRL A/S LORNE CRANER FROM DCM WILLIAM POPE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2012
TAGS: PHUM PREL ITALY'>IT US UNHRC
SUBJECT: UNCHR: ITALIANS EXPECT INCREASED U.S. EFFORT TO
CONSULT
REF: A. POPE/CRANER E-MAILS
B. ROME 1556
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM POPE. REASON 1.5 (B),(D).
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 01769 091420Z
1. (C) MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR GIANCARLO ARAGONA IS SCHEDULED
TO MEET YOU 4/11, AFTER ARRIVING IN WASHINGTON 4/10.
ARAGONA'S ROLE WAS INSTRUMENTAL, IF NOT DECISIVE, IN THE
GOI'S DECISION TO POSTPONE ITS UNCHR CANDIDACY AND THEREBY
MAKE WAY FOR THE U.S. TO RETURN TO THE COMMISSION IN 2003.
ALTHOUGH NO "DEAL MAKING" WAS INVOLVED, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THE
ITALIANS EXPECT SOMETHING MORE FROM THIS GESTURE THAN AN
ABSTRACT EXPRESSION OF USG APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE.
2. (C) A THEME WE FREQUENTLY HEAR IN ROME IS THAT THE USG
DOES NOT TREAT ITALY ON A PAR WITH CERTAIN EU PARTNERS (E.G.,
U.K., GERMANY, FRANCE). THE ITALIANS WOULD LIKE TO BE (AND
TO BE SEEN TO BE) CONSULTED ON MAJOR ISSUES BEFOREHAND. SUCH
CONSULTATION WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE ITALIAN VIEWS. AS
IS THE CASE IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL FORA, ITALIAN VIEWS ON
MATTERS BEFORE THE COMMISSION TEND TO BE STRAITJACKETED BY
THE "EU CONSENSUS." HOWEVER, AS NOTED REF B, THE GOI UNDER
PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI CONSIDERS THE ASSERTION OF
NATIONAL INTERESTS WITHIN EU FORUMS TO BE AS LEGITIMATE FOR
ITALY AS IT IS FOR COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY AND FRANCE.
3. (C) UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ADVANCE CONSULTATION
PRESENTS US CONSIDERABLE ADVANTAGES. WITH THE SHARP
EXCEPTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, WHICH ARAGONA IS LIKELY TO
RAISE, GOI VIEWS ON MATTERS BEFORE THE UNCHR TEND TO BE
PARALLEL OR, AT LEAST, SYMPATHETIC TO OURS. WE STAND TO GAIN
FROM AN INVIGORATED GOI VOICE IN EU COUNCILS THAT HAS ALREADY
HEARD AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT USG VIEWS. AND THERE ALSO WILL
BE OCCASIONS WHEN GOI ADVICE CAN HELP SHAPE FOR THE BETTER
OUR APPROACH TO THE EU AND COMMISSION MEMBERS AT LARGE.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 01769 091420Z
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME01769 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL