Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3647
2002-07-24 09:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY FULLY SUPPORTS DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON
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 003647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2012
TAGS: PHUM IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY FULLY SUPPORTS DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON
TORTURE
REF: SECSTATE 130158
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2012
TAGS: PHUM ITALY'>IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY FULLY SUPPORTS DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON
TORTURE
REF: SECSTATE 130158
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL DEMARCHE, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EMANUELE PIGNATELLI TOLD POLOFF JULY 23 THAT
THE GOI SHARES THE EU POSITION ON THE DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 03647 240902Z
ON TORTURE. STATING THAT THE GOI HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE
USG TO SIGN THE DOPT, PIGNATELLI OUTLINED HIS GOVERNMENT'S
POSITION WITH CONVICTION. THE GOI IS "PROFOUNDLY CONVINCED"
OF THE DOPT'S NECESSITY. NEGOTIATING THE DOPT TOOK TEN
YEARS; ALL SOLUTIONS AND NATIONAL POSITIONS WERE CONSIDERED.
AN INTERNATIONAL BODY ABLE TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT CASES OF
TORTURE AND TO HELP COUNTRIES DEVELOP LEGAL FRAMEWORKS TO
PREVENT TORTURE IS ESSENTIAL. THE SUCCESS OF THE EUROPEAN
CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND ITS COMMITTEE TASKED WITH THE
TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES ENVISIONED BY THE DOPT HAD CONVINCED
THE GOI OF THE VALUE OF EXPANDING THEM TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SYSTEM.
2. (C) PIGNATELLI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE DOPT "COULD ALWAYS
BE IMPROVED." HOWEVER, THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE HAD DONE AN
EXCELLENT JOB, AND IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE A SLIGHTLY-IMPERFECT
DOPT THAN NONE AT ALL. WITH REGARD TO THE PROCEDURAL
CONCERNS RAISED BY REFTEL AND PREVIOUS DEMARCHES, PIGNATELLI
SAID THAT CONSENSUS IS CERTAINLY PREFERABLE BUT NOT ALWAYS
POSSIBLE. IN THIS CASE, BEING ABLE TO BRING THE DOPT TO A
VOTE ENABLED THE CHR TO RESOLVE A DILEMMA; I.E., HOW TO PASS
THE DOPT WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN SO MUCH AS TO BE USELESS.
3. (C) CURRENTLY, THE GOI IS ENGAGED IN AN EFFORT TO
CONVINCE OTHER COUNTRIES WITH GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS TO
ACCEDE TO THE DOPT, NOTING THAT ITS AIM IS TO PREVENT
TORTURE, NOT TO JUDGE OR CONDEMN OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
NONETHELESS, THE GOI "FULLY APPRECIATED THE CONSIDERATIONS
THAT THE USG HAS EXPRESSED."
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 03647 240902Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME03647 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2012
TAGS: PHUM ITALY'>IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY FULLY SUPPORTS DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON
TORTURE
REF: SECSTATE 130158
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POL P. THIEDE FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) IN RESPONSE TO REFTEL DEMARCHE, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EMANUELE PIGNATELLI TOLD POLOFF JULY 23 THAT
THE GOI SHARES THE EU POSITION ON THE DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ROME 03647 240902Z
ON TORTURE. STATING THAT THE GOI HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE
USG TO SIGN THE DOPT, PIGNATELLI OUTLINED HIS GOVERNMENT'S
POSITION WITH CONVICTION. THE GOI IS "PROFOUNDLY CONVINCED"
OF THE DOPT'S NECESSITY. NEGOTIATING THE DOPT TOOK TEN
YEARS; ALL SOLUTIONS AND NATIONAL POSITIONS WERE CONSIDERED.
AN INTERNATIONAL BODY ABLE TO INTERVENE TO PREVENT CASES OF
TORTURE AND TO HELP COUNTRIES DEVELOP LEGAL FRAMEWORKS TO
PREVENT TORTURE IS ESSENTIAL. THE SUCCESS OF THE EUROPEAN
CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND ITS COMMITTEE TASKED WITH THE
TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES ENVISIONED BY THE DOPT HAD CONVINCED
THE GOI OF THE VALUE OF EXPANDING THEM TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SYSTEM.
2. (C) PIGNATELLI ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE DOPT "COULD ALWAYS
BE IMPROVED." HOWEVER, THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE HAD DONE AN
EXCELLENT JOB, AND IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE A SLIGHTLY-IMPERFECT
DOPT THAN NONE AT ALL. WITH REGARD TO THE PROCEDURAL
CONCERNS RAISED BY REFTEL AND PREVIOUS DEMARCHES, PIGNATELLI
SAID THAT CONSENSUS IS CERTAINLY PREFERABLE BUT NOT ALWAYS
POSSIBLE. IN THIS CASE, BEING ABLE TO BRING THE DOPT TO A
VOTE ENABLED THE CHR TO RESOLVE A DILEMMA; I.E., HOW TO PASS
THE DOPT WITHOUT WATERING IT DOWN SO MUCH AS TO BE USELESS.
3. (C) CURRENTLY, THE GOI IS ENGAGED IN AN EFFORT TO
CONVINCE OTHER COUNTRIES WITH GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS TO
ACCEDE TO THE DOPT, NOTING THAT ITS AIM IS TO PREVENT
TORTURE, NOT TO JUDGE OR CONDEMN OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
NONETHELESS, THE GOI "FULLY APPRECIATED THE CONSIDERATIONS
THAT THE USG HAS EXPRESSED."
SEMBLER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ROME 03647 240902Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002ROME03647 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL