ALEMANNO TO SEMBLER: LESS OPEN ON BIOTECH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 002551

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER, EUR FOR EUR/WE AND
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB FOR GADSDEN AND EB/TPP/ATT FOR
PEREZ, E FOR SHUB, OES A/S TURNER, STATE PASS USTR FOR
STROJE AND NOVELLI, STATE USDA FOR O/S HEGWOOD, FAS/OA
TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY, ITP SHEIK, MACKE, AND EJONES,
FAS/FAA/WILSON, AND FAS/OPD BLU, NSC FOR EDSON

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02551 01 OF 03 241547Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2012
TAGS: EAGR ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO ECON ITALY'>IT PREL TBIO WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ALEMANNO TO SEMBLER: LESS OPEN ON BIOTECH

REF: A. ROME 1457


B. ROME 1697

C. ROME 1726

D. ROME 1965

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR SEMBLER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. AMBASSADOR MET MAY 17 WITH ITALIAN
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ALEMANNO TO DELIVER SECRETARY
VENEMAN'S LETTER ON ALEMANNO'S BIOTECH WHITE PAPER AND LAY
THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE MAY 27 MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT
BUSH AND PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI. ALEMANNO INDICATED
THAT HIS POSITION ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IS LESS
OPEN TODAY THAN WHEN HE AND THE AMBASSADOR MET LAST
JANUARY. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SMALL OPPORTUNITY FOR
COLLABORATIVE BIOTECH RESEARCH. THE EMBASSY WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH MINAG STAFF TO SECURE ALEMANNO'S SUPPORT FOR
AN AGREEMENT ON COLLABORATIVE BIOTECH RESEARCH THAT COULD
FREE OTHER MINISTRIES TO WORK MORE ACTIVELY WITH US.


2. (C) COMMENT. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, ALEMANNO
CONTINUES TO AVOID AN OPEN AND HONEST DEBATE ON THE MERITS
OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY. HE CONTINUES TO TRY TO
SECURE A PRE-DETERMINED OUTCOME BEFORE OTHER COMPETING
POINTS OF VIEW WITHIN THE GOI CAN EFFECTIVELY WEIGH-IN.
VARIOUS AND CONTRADICTORY MOTIVES ARE ASCRIBED TO
ALEMANNO'S POSITION ON BIOTECH, FROM A ROMANTIC VIEW OF
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 02551 01 OF 03 241547Z
ITALIAN AGRICULTURE, TO PANDERING TO CONSUMER SENTIMENTS
AND POPULIST POLITICS. WHATEVER HIS UNDERLYING
CONVICTIONS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE ARGUING THE
MERITS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY WITH HIM. RATHER, THE WAY TO ROLL
BACK HIS MOMENTUM IS BY CONTINUING TO HELP OTHER VOICES
WITHIN THE AN PARTY, BERLUSCONI'S BROADER COALITION, AND
ITALIAN SOCIETY WHO WANT TO TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES ON THE
MERITS. SUCH A COALITION OF LIKE-MINDED, OR AT LEAST
OPEN-MINDED, ADVOCATES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE-BASED
DECISION MAKING CAN PROVIDE A COUNTERWEIGHT TO THE
COALITION OF STRANGE BEDFELLOWS THAT ALEMANNO HAS BEEN
RIDING TO THIS POINT. PM BERLUSCONI AND DEPUTY PM FINI CAN
ALSO MODERATE ALEMANNO'S INTENTIONS, BUT IF, AND ONLY IF,
THEY ARE CONVINCED THEY NEED TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON
THE ISSUE. END COMMENT AND SUMMARY.


3. (SBU) AMBASSADOR SEMBLER MET AGMINISTER ALEMANNO ON
MAY 17 TO DELIVER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE VENEMAN'S LETTER
TO ALEMANNO ON THE AGMIN'S PAPER ON BIOTECHNOLOGY ENTITLED
"TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS AND AGRICULTURE: A TIME FOR CHOICES:,
AND TO SEEK A WAY FORWARD ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN ADVANCE OF
THE MAY 27 MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT BUSH AND PRIME
MINISTER BERLUSCONI. AMBASSADOR SEMBLER EMPHASIZED THE
SECRETARY'S CONCERNS THAT THE ALEMANNO PAPER IS UNBALANCED

SIPDIS
AND RELIES ON ARGUMENTS WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION. HE
ASKED ALEMANNO FOR HIS SUPPORT OF UNDER SECRETARY GIANNI
LETTA'S (SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER) IDEA TO
DEVELOP A COOPERATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AGREEMENT ON
BIOTECHNOLOGY, SIMILAR TO THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON
CLIMATE CHANGE, AS A WAY FORWARD ON AGRICULTURAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY. A BUSH-BERLUSCONI ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUCH AN
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 ROME 02551 01 OF 03 241547Z
AGREEMENT COULD THEN BE A BASIS FOR MINISTER ALEMANNO'S
MEETING WITH SECRETARY VENEMAN IN JUNE DURING THE WORLD
FOOD SUMMIT AT FAO. (COMMENT: WE UNDERSTAND THE WHITE
HOUSE DOES NOT WISH ANY BILATERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS. A QUIET
AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP AN ANNEX TO THE EXISTING BILATERAL S&T
AGREEMENT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE. WE WILL INVESTIGATE
THIS POSSIBILITY. END COMMENT.)


4. (SBU) ADDRESSING THE TIMING OF THE WHITE PAPER,
ALEMANNO INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CONSULT
WITH REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE TAVOLA AGROALIMENTARE
(THE GOVERNMENT'S FOOD INDUSTRY ADVISORY GROUP) PRIOR TO
SUBMITTING THE DOCUMENT TO EITHER THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
OR THE PARLIAMENT FOR DEBATE. THE TAVOLA AGROALIMENTARE IS
SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS THE PAPER ON JUNE 4. (COMMENT: WE
LEARNED SUBSEQUENTLY THAT ALEMANNO HAD SENT THE THIRD
VERSION OF HIS WHITE PAPER TO THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES ON
MAY 16 AND TO THE SENATE ON MAY 17. BOTH ARE CLOSED THIS
WEEK FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS. END COMMENT.)


5. (SBU) ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE WHITE PAPER, ALEMANNO
EXPLAINED THAT HIS POSITION ON BIOTECHNOLOGY HAD BECOME
LESS OPEN SINCE HE AND THE AMBASSADOR LAST MET (JANUARY 22,
2002) BECAUSE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EVENTS THAT HAVE SINCE

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8283

PAGE 01 ROME 02551 02 OF 03 241547Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AIT-03 AMAD-00 ACQ-00
CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 VC-00
FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00
VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00
STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- B38537 241547Z /38
P 241528Z MAY 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3906
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY VATICAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 002551

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER, EUR FOR EUR/WE AND
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB FOR GADSDEN AND EB/TPP/ATT FOR
PEREZ, E FOR SHUB, OES A/S TURNER, STATE PASS USTR FOR
STROJE AND NOVELLI, STATE USDA FOR O/S HEGWOOD, FAS/OA
TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY, ITP SHEIK, MACKE, AND EJONES,
FAS/FAA/WILSON, AND FAS/OPD BLU, NSC FOR EDSON

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02551 02 OF 03 241547Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2012
TAGS: EAGR ECON IT PREL TBIO ECON IT PREL TBIO ECON IT PREL TBIO WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ALEMANNO TO SEMBLER: LESS OPEN ON BIOTECH

TAKEN PLACE IN ITALY. HE EXPLAINED THAT ITALY'S LARGEST
AND STRONGEST FARMERS' ORGANIZATION, COLDIRETTI, HAS MADE
CLEAR ITS OPPOSITION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY AND HAS "CEMENTED A
STRONG FRONT WITH ALL OF ITALY'S CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS". THEIR STRENGTH WAS "CLEARLY SHOWN"
IN THE DEMONSTRATION THEY HELD IN FRONT OF MONSANTO'S
FACILITY IN LODI ON APRIL 20, ALEMANNO ASSERTED. ACCORDING
TO ALEMANNO, COLDIRETTI HAS ALSO ACCUSED THE MINAG OF BEING
TOO SOFT ON GMO-USE IN ITALY.


6. (C) COMMENT. ALEMANNO'S ANALYSIS IS CLEARLY
SELF-SERVING. FIRST, ACCORDING TO MONSANTO, THE
DEMONSTRATION WAS PEACEFUL WITH A FEW TRACTORS AND PERHAPS
30-40 PEOPLE. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THE PRESS COVERAGE WAS FAR
MORE DAMAGING TO MONSANTO THAN THE PROTEST ITSELF. SECOND,
WE STILL NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT ALEMANNO AND COLDIRETTI
HAVE ALL ITALIAN CONSUMER GROUPS IN THEIR CORNER. THOSE
THAT ATTENDED THE EMBASSY'S FEBRUARY 14 PROGRAM WITH
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR C.S. PRAKASH DEMONSTRATED
OPEN-MINDEDNESS AND EVEN WARMED TO THE SUBJECT OF
BIOTECHNOLOGY. END COMMENT.


7. (SBU) ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE WHICH INDICATES THAT BIOTECH PRODUCTS ON THE
MARKET ARE HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH, ALEMANNO EXPLAINED THAT
ITALIAN CONSUMERS BELIEVE BIOTECHNOLOGY IS INCOMPATIBLE
WITH QUALITY FOOD. IN ITALY, WHERE THE REPUTATION OF
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 02551 02 OF 03 241547Z
ITALIAN PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE, IT
WOULD NOT BE COMMERCIALLY VIABLE TO DEVELOP BIOTECH CROPS.
ALEMANNO ADDED THAT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED QUANTITY OF LAND
AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, IT WOULD BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO GUARANTEE THE SEPARATION OF GMO-FREE
PRODUCTION, IF PLANTED ALONGSIDE GMO CROPS. THE LATTER
CONCERN IS THE BASIS FOR ITALY'S ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS
APPROACH TO BIOTECHNOLOGY. HE REPEATED THAT ITALY'S
CONCERN WITH BIOTECHNOLOGY WAS BASED ON COMMERCIAL, NOT
HEALTH, FACTORS. IN CONCLUSION, ALEMANNO STATED THAT THE
PURPOSE OF THE WHITE PAPER IS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS
SURROUNDING BIOTECHNOLOGY IN ORDER THAT THE COUNCIL OF
MINISTERS OR THE PARLIAMENT COULD HAVE AN OPEN AND FAIR
DEBATE ON THE ISSUE. HE PROCLAIMED THAT IF THE WHITE PAPER
IS PERCEIVED AS BIASED, HE IS PREPARED TO MODIFY IT.


8. (SBU) THE U.S. SIDE EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS NO
CONCLUSIVE STUDY WHICH SUPPORTS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE
CULTIVATION OF BIOTECH CROPS CANNOT CO-EXIST WITH
CONVENTIONAL CROPS. TO THE CONTRARY, SIMILAR CHALLENGES
HAVE BEEN OVERCOME IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE PURITY OF
PLANTING SEEDS. THE ANSWER TO ALEMANNO'S QUESTION LIES IN
RESEARCH, SOMETHING THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY MIGHT WORK
ON TOGETHER. THE U.S. SIDE ALSO CHALLENGED ALEMANNO'S
ASSERTION THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH QUALITY
AGRICULTURE. ITALIAN SCIENTISTS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED NEW
PLANT VARIETIES WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE POTENTIAL FOR
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTION, QUALITY, AND
SUSTAINABILITY OF TRADITIONAL CROPS SUCH AS THE SAN MARZANO
TOMATO AND CARNAROLI RICE.

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 ROME 02551 02 OF 03 241547Z

9. (SBU) ALEMANNO WAS QUICK TO DENY THAT HE PERSONALLY
BELIEVES GMO'S ARE INCONSISTENT WITH QUALITY ITALIAN
AGRICULTURE. RATHER, THIS WAS THE PREVAILING PERCEPTION
AMONG ITALIAN CONSUMERS. RETURNING TO THE IDEA OF A
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, ALEMANNO
ENCOURAGED THE EMBASSY TO WORK WITH PROF. FERNANADO ROMANO,
THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE MINISTER'S BIOTECH
COMMITTEE. ROMANO IS ALSO CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
ON NUTRITION. ALEMANNO SAID HE WOULD ASK ROMANO TO CONTACT
THE EMBASSY EARLY THE WEEK OF MAY 20.


10. (SBU) AMBASSADOR SEMBLER REPEATED THE INTEREST OF THE
UNITED STATES TO MOVE QUICKLY IN ADVANCE OF PRESIDENT
BUSH'S VISIT. ALEMANNO IN RESPONSE CONFIRMED THAT PM
BERLUSCONI, DEPUTY PM FINI, AND HE ALL WANTED TO AVOID A
DISPUTE OVER BIOTECH THAT IMPINGES ON U.S.-ITALIAN
RELATIONS. HE SUGGESTED THAT IF GMO-FREE PRODUCTION COULD
TAKE PLACE ALONGSIDE BIOTECH CROPS "WITHOUT CONTAMINATION"
THE ISSUE COULD BE EASILY RESOLVED.


11. (C) ANALYSIS AND COMMENT. ALEMANNO WAS OBVIOUSLY
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SCIENCE AND BACKED DOWN QUICKLY TO
EMBRACE THE CAUSE OF FURTHER RESEARCH WHEN THE FOUNDATIONS
OF HIS POLICY PAPER WERE SCRUTINIZED. HE AGREED UNDER FIRE

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8285

PAGE 01 ROME 02551 03 OF 03 241547Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 AIT-03 AMAD-00 ACQ-00
CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FAAE-00 VC-00
FRB-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 L-00
VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00
PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00
STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- B38541 241548Z /38
P 241528Z MAY 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3907
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY VATICAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 002551

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCIENCE ADVISOR NEUREITER, EUR FOR EUR/WE AND
EUR/ERA FOR HEN-NIL, EB FOR GADSDEN AND EB/TPP/ATT FOR
PEREZ, E FOR SHUB, OES A/S TURNER, STATE PASS USTR FOR
STROJE AND NOVELLI, STATE USDA FOR O/S HEGWOOD, FAS/OA
TERPSTRA AND SLUTSKY, ITP SHEIK, MACKE, AND EJONES,
FAS/FAA/WILSON, AND FAS/OPD BLU, NSC FOR EDSON

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 02551 03 OF 03 241547Z
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2012
TAGS: EAGR ECON IT PREL TBIO ECON IT PREL TBIO ECON IT PREL TBIO WTOEAGR WTOEAGR WTO
SUBJECT: ALEMANNO TO SEMBLER: LESS OPEN ON BIOTECH

THAT RESEARCH COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. COULD BE A GOOD
THING AND COULD HELP CLARIFY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS HIS
PAPER RAISES WITHOUT REFERENCE OR CITATION. NO PROGRESSIVE
THINKER HERE, BUT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PIN HIM DOWN BY HIS OWN
WORDS INTO COOPERATIVE RESEARCH THAT WILL OPEN THE DOORS
FOR ITALY'S UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH
AS ENEA AND ISS. WE WILL SOON KNOW WHERE ALEMANNO STANDS
BY WHETHER HIS BIOTECH RESEARCH ADVISOR CONTACTS US AS
PROMISED.


12. (C) ALEMANNO IS NOT NEARLY SO OPEN-MINDED TO
BIOTECHNOLOGY AS HE ATTEMPTED TO PORTRAY HIMSELF TO THE
AMBASSADOR. HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND SPEECHES MORE
CLEARLY REFLECT HIS VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. THE LATEST
EXAMPLE WAS ON MAY 21 WHEN ALEMANNO, SPEAKING TO A NAPLES
CONFERENCE ON WINE, SAID THAT HE WAS PERSONALLY CONVINCED
THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO WED "GMO-FREE" TO QUALITY FOOD.
WHAT IS ALSO CLEAR IS THAT HE'S RIDING A WAVE OF SUPPORT
FROM THE MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE BETWEEN COLDIRETTI
(FORMERLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS),THE
GREENS, ANTI-GLOBAL GROUPS, AND SOME CONSUMER
ORGANIZATIONS. ARE THEY AS FORMIDABLE AS HE SAYS? WE THINK
NOT, BUT THEY CAST A MENACING SHADOW. THEY'VE HAD SUCCESS
SIMPLY BY VIRTUE OF THE LACK OF ANY REAL COMPETING VISION
ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY FROM POLITICAL LEADERS.

13.(C) WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE ALEMANNO AND HIS
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 02551 03 OF 03 241547Z
DETERMINATION TO ADVANCE HIS POLITICAL CAREER. ALTHOUGH HE
KNOWS NEITHER AGRICULTURE NOR SCIENCE (HIS SPECIALTY AND
POLITICAL HOBBY HORSE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN LABOR),HE KNOWS
POLITICS FROM THE GRASSROOTS TO THE CONSIGLIO. HE HAS USED
HIS HOME TIES TO THE PUGLIA REGION AND PARTY CONNECTIONS TO
LINE UP SUPPORT FOR HIS WHITE PAPER AMONG REGIONAL
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONERS, AND TO CUT A DEAL WITH SOME
NATIONAL ALLIANCE (AN) MEMBERS AND FORMER COMMUNIST REGIONS
TO SUPPORT HIS NO-GMO VIEWS (WITH ONLY THE REGION OF
LOMBARDIA DISSENTING, AND STRONGLY). HE RECENTLY DISPLAYED
HIS AMPLE POLITICAL SKILLS AT THE AN CONGRESS IN BOLOGNA;
HIS ONE HOUR SPEECH IN A FIFTEEN MINUTE SLOT GALVANIZED THE
PARTY FAITHFUL. HIS MOST TRUSTED STAFF AT MINAG FEEL AT
LIBERTY TO ROUTINELY ENGAGE IN VERBAL ATTACKS ON OPPONENTS
WITHIN THE GOI'S NATIONAL BIOTECH COMMITTEES WHO DARE TO
CRITICIZE THE WHITE PAPER.


14. (C) WE SUSPECT THAT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ALEMANNO SEEKS
TO SWAY GOVERNMENT POLICY WITH THE SPECTER OF POPULAR
PROTESTS. WE QUESTION THE VIABILITY OF SUCH A STRATEGY,
BUT NONETHELESS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET HIM PROCEED
UNIMPEDED. AT PRESENT THE ONLY COUNTERWEIGHT WE SEE TO
ALEMANNO'S STRATEGY IS TO CONVINCE PM BERLUSCONI AND DEPUTY
PM FINI THAT ADOPTING ALEMANNO'S PAPER UNCHANGED (WHETHER
OUT OF FEAR OF POTENTIAL DEMONSTRATION OR A DESIRE TO AVOID
INTERNAL CONFLICT ON THE ISSUE) WOULD CREATE A SUBSTANTIAL
IMPEDIMENT TO U.S.-ITALIAN RELATIONS. THE UPCOMING VISITS
OF THE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY VENEMAN, U/S LARSON AND OTHERS
TO ROME PROVIDE PERFECT OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE OUR
INTERESTS. END ANALYSIS AND COMMENT.
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 04 ROME 02551 03 OF 03 241547Z

CONFIDENTIAL

>
2002ROME02551 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL