C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001826

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA MARKINGS PARA 6)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2012
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAID MOPS MARR EAID ITALY'>IT ITPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY: COALITION CONTRIBUTIONS INITIATIVE

REF: A. SECSTATE 60085

B. ROME 32

C. ROME 254
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PAGE 02 ROME 01826 01 OF 02 151228Z

D. ROME 1589

E. TIRANA 576

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM WILLIAM P. POPE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) EMBASSY ROME CONCLUDES THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE
TO DELIVER REF A DEMARCHE TO ITALY. THE GOI IS ALREADY
MAKING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL, MILITARY, AND TROOP
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OEF, THE STABILIZATION OF THE BALKANS, ISAF,
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE
FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN, IN ADDITION TO CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OTHER MULTILATERAL AND PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS (REF B).

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OEF
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2. (U) ITALY HAS COMMITTED SIGNIFICANT ASSETS FOR OPERATION
ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), INCLUDING: ITALY'S ONE AIRCRAFT
CARRIER "GARIBALDI", EIGHT HARRIER JETS AND SIX TORNADO
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT. THE ITALIAN MILITARY HAS DEPLOYED
ONE OF THE FOUR LARGEST FORCES IN THE COALITION SUPPORTING
OEF, INCLUDING OVER 2,500 MILITARY PERSONNEL, AND IS ONE OF
THE FEW COALITION ALLIES TO MOVE ITS ASSETS TO THE THEATER
UNASSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, WITHIN DAYS OF THE EVENTS OF
SEPTEMBER 11, ITALIAN AUTHORITIES FACILITATED, SIMPLIFIED, OR
OTHERWISE EXPEDITED EXISTING PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE TRANSIT
OVER ITALIAN TERRITORY AND OVERFLIGHT OVER ITALIAN AIRSPACE
OF US FORCES ENGAGED IN OEF. THESE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN
WITHOUT PROMPTING BY US OFFICIALS AND WERE CLEARLY THE RESULT
OF DIRECTION FROM THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE GOI. THE GOI HAS
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MADE ITS MILITARY FACILITIES READILY AVAILABLE FOR OEF
DEPLOYMENTS TO THE THEATER, A CONTRIBUTION THE US HAS MADE
CONSIDERABLE USE OF GIVEN ITALY'S STRATEGIC LOCATION. OVER
FIFTY PERCENT OF OEF FLIGHTS FROM THE US TO THE THEAT

ER HAVE
TRANSITED SIGONELLA AIR BASE IN SICILY, EITHER FOR BED-DOWN,
TRAINING OR REFUELING.

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ISAF
--------------


3. (C) ITALY HAS DEPLOYED ABOUT 400 PERSONNEL TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF) TO HELP
STABILIZE THE SITUATION IN KABUL. THE GOI RECENTLY AGREED TO
EXTEND ITS COMMITMENT TO ISAF WHEN ISAF'S ORIGINAL MANDATE
WAS EXTENDED DESPITE ITALY'S EXTENSIVE TROOP COMMITMENTS
ELSEWHERE. ISAF HAS ESTABLISHED TWO QUICK-REACTION UNITS OF
PLATOON SIZE. ONE OF THESE UNITS WILL BE MADE UP ENTIRELY OF
ITALIAN CARABINIERI. THESE UNITS WILL BE DEDICATED TO
ASSISTING THE FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN IN THE EVENT OF
TROUBLE.

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RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN
--------------


4. (U) AT THE TOKYO AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE, ITALY
MADE AN INITIAL PLEDGE OF 40-45 MILLION EUROS (ABOUT 36-40
MILLION DOLLARS). ITALY HAS ALSO COMMITTED SOME 35 MILLION
EUROS (ABOUT 31 MILLION DOLLARS) TO BILATERAL ASSISTANCE TO
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AFGHANISTAN. SOME OF THE BILATERAL EFFORTS ITALY EXPECTS TO
UNDERTAKE IN AFGHANISTAN INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR THE
RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF AFGHAN MINISTRIES, COOPERATION IN POLICE
TRAINING, AND SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN PARTICIPATION IN THE 2008
OLYMPIC GAMES (REF C). WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE SERIOUS
EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK THE PROVINCE OF BAGHLAN ON MARCH 25,
THE GOI SENT MEDICINE AND EMERGENCY GOODS AND ALLOCATED 2
MILLION EUROS (ABOUT 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS) TO THE PRIMARY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING IN THE AREA. THE GOI
PLANS TO ASSIST IN CULTURAL REHABILITATION AND REVITALIZATION
OF AFGHANISTAN'S JUDICIAL PROGRAMS.

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THE PROTECTION OF THE FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN
-------------- ---


5. (C) ITALY HAS EXPENDED CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES IN PROVIDING
PROTECTION FOR THE FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN DURING HIS
30-YEAR EXILE IN ROME. MUCH OF THIS ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING
FINANCIAL AID TO MAINTAIN AN OFFICE FOR THE "ROME GROUP" OF
AFGHAN MODERATE EXILES LEADING UP TO THE BONN NEGOTIATIONS
LAST DECEMBER, WAS PROVIDED AT THE BEHEST OF OR IN
COORDINATION WITH THE USG.


6. (C) MOST RECENTLY, PM BERLUSCONI RESPONDED TO A PERSONAL
TELEPHONE CALL FROM PRESIDENT BUSH AND AGREED TO TRAIN A
CLOSE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE DETAIL FOR THE FORMER KING TO GUARD

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CONFIDENTIAL PTQ6913

PAGE 01 ROME 01826 02 OF 02 151229Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 COR-01 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00
INL-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00
VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00
MED-07 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00
SSO-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /015W
-------------- 864BC6 151230Z /38
O 120631Z APR 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3230
INFO AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY
AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY
AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001826

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA MARKINGS PARA 6)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2012
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAID MOPS MARR EAID IT ITPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY: COALITION CONTRIBUTIONS INITIATIVE

HIM FOLLOWING HIS RETURN TO KABUL. THE GOI ALSO AGREED TO
PROVIDE PROTECTION DIRECTLY TO THE KING UNTIL SUCH TIME AS
THE AFGHAN PROTECTIVE DETAIL WAS FULLY TRAINED AND CAPABLE OF
PROVIDING THE PROTECTION.
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PAGE 02 ROME 01826 02 OF 02 151229Z

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BALKANS
--------------


7. (U) ITALY IS THE SECOND LARGEST TROOP CONTRIBUTOR IN THE
BALKANS, WITH ABOUT 7,500 SERVING IN BOSNIA (SFOR) AND KOSOVO
(KFOR), AND ANOTHER 1,200 AS PART OF COMZWEST IN ALBANIA (REF
D). ITALIAN CARABINIERI CONSTITUTE MORE THAN HALF OF THE
MULTINATIONAL SPECIALIZED UNITS (MSUS) NEEDED FOR
LAW-ENFORCEMENT TASKS IN BOSNIA. THE GOI IS ONE OF THE
LEADING BILATERAL PROVIDERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AID TO ALBANIA
WHERE THE DROP IN CLANDESTINE IMMIGRATION IS LARGELY DUE TO
ITALIAN POLICE ASSISTANCE (REF E).


8. (U) ITALY COMMANDS COMZWEST, ONE OF FIVE SECTORS IN KOSOVO
CONTROLLED BY KFOR. AN ITALIAN GENERAL (GENERAL CABIGIOSU)
ABLY COMMANDED KFOR FROM OCTOBER 2000-APRIL 2001, AND ANOTHER
ITALIAN IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE COMMAND OF KFOR IN OCTOBER 2002.


9. (U) THE GOI WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO OFFER TROOPS (750) FOR
TASK FORCE ESSENTIAL HARVEST TO RECOVER WEAPONS FROM ARMED
GROUPS IN MACEDONIA IN 2001. ITALIAN SOLDIERS ARE CURRENTLY
ENGAGED IN TASK FORCE FOX (TFF), WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE
SECURITY FOR OSCE OBSERVERS IN MACEDONIA. ITALY HAD OFFERED
TO TAKE COMMAND OF TFF THIS SPRING, HOWEVER GERMANY AGREED TO
RETAIN COMMAND UNTIL JUNE.

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ITALY IS DOING ITS BEST
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10. (U) ITALY CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS FIRM COMMITMENT TO
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, TO THE NATO ALLIANCE AND TO
OTHER AVENUES FOR FOSTERING SECURITY IN EUROPE AND BEYOND,
INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN BOTH UN AND NON-UN PEACEKEEPING
FORCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 11
TERRORIST ATTACKS, THE GOI HAS BEEN A FULL PARTNER WITH THE
US IN ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES IN THE DIPLOMATIC,
INTELLIGENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FINANCIAL CONTROL AND OTHER
AREAS. THE MOST VISIBLE DISPLAY OF THIS COMMITMENT WAS THE
DISPATCH OF TROOPS IN SUPPORT OF OEF, A DEPLOYMENT ENDORSED
BY NEARLY 90% OF THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT DESPITE THE
CONSIDERABLE STRAIN THAT ITALY'S ACTIVE MILITARY ROLE PLACES
ON THE ITALIAN BUDGET (REF B).


11. (C) GIVEN ITALY'S SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSISTING
THE COALITION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AS WELL AS TO
STABILIZE SE EUROPE, A FURTHER APPROACH AS OUTLINED IN REF A
WOULD NOT ONLY BE UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED BUT WOULD CONVEY AN
INAPPROPRIATE IMPRESSION: THAT THE USG LACKS APPRECIATION FOR
ITALY'S CONTRIBUTIONS.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME01826 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL