1. (C) AS PROMISED REF A, POLOFF FOLLOWED UP WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF THE MFA'S BALKAN OFFICE, MARIZIO MASSARI, TO
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REGISTER THE MINISTRY'S VIEWS ON THE NEW INVESTIGATION AND
POSSIBLE INDICTMENT OF MONTENEGRIN PRESIDENT DJUKANOVIC BY
THE ANTI-MAFIA PUBLIC PROSECUTOR IN BARI, GIUSEPPE SCELSI, ON
CHARGES OF MAFIA CONSPIRACY FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTERNATIONAL
TRAFFICKING IN CONTRABAND CIGARETTES.



2. (C) MASSARI CONFIRMED REPORTS IN REFTELS THAT THE MFA
HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE INVESTIGATION, NOR HAD IT BEEN
CONSULTED ON THE QUESTION OF IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR
DJUKANOVIC. HE SURMISED THAT IF THERE WERE ANY POLITICAL
ANGLE TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS LONG RUNNING STORY,
THEY WOULD BE TIED TO INTERNAL ITALIAN POLITICS, NOT TO ANY
ATTEMPT BY THE GOI TO UNDERMINE DJUKANOVIC. THE GOI IS A
STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE EU BROKERED AGREEMENT BETWEEN
PODGORICA AND BELGRADE TO KEEP MONTENEGRO IN THE FEDERATION,
CONTINUED MASSARI, AND UNDERMINING DJUKANOVIC'S CREDIBILITY
WITH A CRIMINAL INDICTMENT WOULD NOT, OBVIOUSLY, SERVE THAT
END.



3. (C) WHEN PRESSED ON THE INTERNAL POLITICAL FACTORS THAT
COULD BE DRIVING THE TIMING OF THE INVESTIGATION, MASSARI
SPECULATED THAT IT COULD BE AN ATTEMPT BY THE "LEFT-LEANING"
SCELSI TO "CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT" TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.
MASSARI SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT DETAILS OF
THE INVESTIGATION WERE ANNOUNCED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPUTY
MINISTER FOR PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES (TRADE) ADOLFO URSO'S
VISIT TO PODGORICA, DURING WHICH HE PRAISED MONTENEGRO'S
EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING.
POPE

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2002ROME02729 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL