Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3600
2002-07-22 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

FRATTINI TO BE NAMED ITALY'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER

Tags:  PREL PINR IT ITALIAN POLITICS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003600 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PINR IT ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: FRATTINI TO BE NAMED ITALY'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003600

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2012
TAGS: PREL PINR IT ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: FRATTINI TO BE NAMED ITALY'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) ON JULY 19, PAOLO DIONISI, DEPUTY DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR
TO PM AND ACTING FM BERLUSCONI, INFORMED CDA THAT BERLUSCONI
PLANS TO ANNOUNCE ITALY'S NEW FM AT THE END OF THE JULY 24-26
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 03600 221426Z
CONFERENCE OF ITALIAN AMBASSADORS TO BE HELD IN ROME. THE
NEW FM, ACCORDING TO DIONISI, WILL BE FRANCO FRATTINI,
CURRENTLY MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO FOR PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION AND THE INTELLIGENCE.


2. (C) THE NEW ITALIAN MFA WILL FOLLOW THE CANADIAN MODEL,
EXPLAINED DIONISI. IT WILL BE CALLED THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND TRADE. HOWEVER, IT WILL HAVE ONLY ONE MINISTER,
FRATTINI, WHO NOT ONLY KNOWS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WELL BUT
IS ALSO VERY CLOSE TO BERLUSCONI AND HIS DIPLOMATIC ADVISORS.
ADOLFO URSO, CURRENTLY DEPUTY MINISTER FOR PRODUCTIVE
ACTIVITIES, WILL BECOME THE DEPUTY MINISTER AT MFA WITH
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING FOREIGN
TRADE THAT HE CURRENTLY HAS. (NOTE: IN HIS MOVE FROM THE
MINISTRY OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES TO THE MFA, URSO WILL BRING
WITH HIM HIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, PREVIOUSLY THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN TRADE. END NOTE.) FRATTINI'S CHIEF OF STAFF WILL BE
CESARE RAGAGLINI, CURRENTLY BERLUSCONI'S DEPUTY DIPLOMATIC
ADVISOR. WITH FRATTINI AS FM, RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MFA AND
PALAZZO CHIGI (THE PM'S OFFICE) WILL BE EXCELLENT, STRESSED
DIONISI. HE ADDED THAT PALAZZO CHIGI DIPLOMATIC STAFF WILL
EXPAND TO MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE US
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, WITH GIOVANNI CASTELLANETA,
BERLUSCONI'S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR, REMAINING TO HEAD THE
EXPANDED ORGANIZATION.


3. (C) COMMENT: EVEN AFTER ANNOUNCING FRATTINI'S APPOINTMENT,
WE EXPECT BERLUSCONI, WHO HAS BEEN ACTING FM FOR EIGHT
MONTHS, TO CONTINUE TO PLAY THE LEAD ROLE IN SHAPING ITALY'S
FOREIGN POLICY. BERLUSCONI, IN CHOOSING A TRUSTED ADVISER
FROM HIS OWN FORZA ITALIA PARTY AS FM, SEEKS TO ENSURE THE
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PAGE 03 ROME 03600 221426Z
END OF SQUABBLES BETWEEN PALAZZO CHIGI AND THE MFA THAT ITALY
EXPERIENCED UNDER FM RUGGIERO, AND LESS FREQUENTLY SINCE
RUGGIERO'S RESIGNATION IN JANUARY. NO DOUBT FRATTINI WILL BE
AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN SHAPING ITALY'S FOREIGN POLICY, BUT
HE WILL ALSO BE EXPECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE MFA EXECUTES
FOREIGN AND TRADE POLICY DESIGNED BY BERLUSCONI AND PALAZZO
CHIGI. END COMMENT.


4. (U) POST WILL FOLLOW UP WITH BIOGRAPHIC DETAIL ON
FRATTINI.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME03600 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL