Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
02ROME402 | 2002-01-25 17:42:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Rome |
This 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 000402 |
1. (SBU) UGO DE MOHR, MFA'S NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR, GAVE HIS VIEW OF THE STATE OF PLAY OF THE WASSENAAR HEAD OF SECRETARIAT ISSUE DURING A JANUARY 24 MEETING WITH ECONOFF. SIPDIS HE SEES, OR AT LEAST COUCHES, THE SITUATION IN PROCEDURAL TERMS: THE DECEMBER PLENARY HAVING ENDED WITHOUT SELECTION OF A HOS, THE PROCESS HAS TO START OVER; THE UKRAINE CHAIR SHOULD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS; THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION TO ELECT A SUCCESSOR, PERHAPS IN MAY. 2. (SBU) DE MOHR SAID ITALY WOULD NOT FIELD A CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB. ON THE SWEDISH CANDIDACY, HE DOESN'T SEE ANY QUESTION OF BLOCKAGE. IF THE SWEDE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE, HE EXPLAINED, ITALY WOULD NOT OPPOSE HIM. ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS ALREADY HEARD RUMORS THAT ANOTHER CANDIDATE (HE THOUGHT MAYBE A SLOVAK) WOULD JUMP INTO THE RACE WHEN NOMINATIONS ARE OPENED. IF THERE IS ANOTHER CANDIDACY, HE SAID WOULD LIKELY VIEW IT IN THE CONTEXT OF "THE POLICY OF GEOGRAPHIC ROTATION. AFTER ALL WE CAN'T HAVE SUCH A POLICY ON MONDAY AND THEN SAY ON WEDNESDAY IT NO LONGER APPLIES." (NOTE. DURING THE CONTROVERSY OVER LAURIOLA'S CANDIDACY FOR A NEW HOS TERM, DE MOHR INSISTED THAT SELECTION OF A SWEDE WOULD VIOLATE THE PRINCIPLE BECAUSE A SWEDE WAS ACTING HOS BEFORE LAURIOLA. END NOTE.) 3. (C) COMMENT. ALTHOUGH DE MOHR WAS HIS USUAL COOPERATIVE SELF ON THE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS ON YESTERDAY'S MEETING AGENDA, HE MADE CLEAR THAT THE LAURIOLA EPISODE STILL RANKLES. WHEN THE GLOVES CAME OFF DURING THAT DECEMBER CONFRONTATION, DE MOHR UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY THAT OUR OPPOSITION TO LAURIOLA DID NOT STEM SOLELY FROM A USG PREFERENCE FOR THE ROTATION OF MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP. HIS ELEVATION OF THAT PREFERENCE TO AN OSTENSIBLE WASSENNAR PRINCIPLE AND INDICATION THAT ITALY MAY TROT IT OUT IN COUNTERATTACK TO THE SWEDISH CANDIDACY CLEARLY SHOWS HIS BITTERNESS. SINCE DE MOHR RUNS A ONE-OFFICER SHOP, WE DON'T YET KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE GOI SHARES HIS PIQUE. ALTHOUGH DE MOHR FAVORS A DELIBERATE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS AND A VOTE NEXT SPRING, A CLEAR INDICATION THAT NO OTHER CANDIDATES, SLOVAK OR OTHERWISE, ARE IN THE OFFING MAY HELP US CONVINCE THE GOI, AT A PAYGRADE ABOVE DE MOHR'S, TO ALLOW ACCELERATION OF THE ELECTION PROCESS. SEMBLER |