HUNGARIAN PM ASSURES HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR

S E C R E T ROME 004424 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2012 TAGS: MOPS PREL HU IT PREL HU IT PREL HU IT IZ IZMOPS IZMOPS SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN PM ASSURES HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE OF CONTINUING GOH SUPPORT CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON, REASON 1.5 (B & D) ======= SUMMARY ======= ¶1. (S) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER MEDQYESSY ASSURED HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE OF GOH SUPPORT FOR THE WAR ON TERROR, INCLUDING ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO STEMMING FINANCIAL SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 04424 121327Z SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM AND TO HOSTING THE ILEA IN BUDAPEST. THE GOH WAS ALSO WILLING TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE BILATERAL INTEL-SHARING RELATIONSHIP IN A "COMPLEMENTARY" MANNER. IN THE CONTEXT OF AN EXCHANGE ON POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, MEDQYESSY TOLD RIDGE "YOU CAN COUNT ON US" BUT APPEALED FOR CLOSE CONSULTATION PRIOR TO ANY USE OF FORCE. THE PM'S CHIEF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY ADVISOR, KLARA AKOTS, SECONDED THE PLEA FOR "NO SURPRISES" AND EXPLAINED THAT THE GOH WOULD NEED TIME TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION AMONGST THE HUNGARIAN ELECTORATE. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) GOVERNOR TOM RIDGE, ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, MET ON 7 SEPTEMBER WITH HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER PETER MEDQYESSY TO DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE WAR ON TERROR. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE IN CERNOBBIO, NORTH OF MILAN, WHERE BOTH RIDGE AND MEDQYESSY WERE ATTENDING THE ANNUAL AMBROSETTI CONFERENCE. ALSO PRESENT WERE CHIEF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY ADVISOR TO THE PM KLARA AKOTS, A GOH INTERPRETER AND A GOH NOTETAKER, AND CHARGE D'AFFAIRES SKODON. ============================================= =========== GOH SUPPORT FOR WAR ON TERROR: FINANCIAL CONTROLS, ILEA ============================================= =========== ¶3. (C) MEDQYESSY BEGAN THE MEETING BY EMPHASIZING THAT THE USG COULD DEPEND ON GOH ASSISTANCE IN THE WAR ON TERROR. THE GOH HAD ASSESSED 9-11 AS AN ATTACK ON THE WORLD COMMUNITY, NOT THE U.S. ALONE. IT WANTED TO COOPERATE AS MUCH AS IT COULD IN THE WORLD'S RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS. SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 04424 121327Z ¶4. (C) THE PM SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT HUNGARY HAD BEEN ON A LIST OF NATIONS WHICH HAD INADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BY CRIMINAL AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THANKS TO NEW LEGISLATIVE MEASURES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LIST -- "THANK GOD." (COMMENT: WE ASSUME THE PM WAS REFERRING TO THE FATF "BLACKLIST." END COMMENT.) MEDGYESSY RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOKING OFF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM, AND ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT THE GOH HAD DONE AND WOULD DO WHAT IT COULD TO HALT THE FLOW OF FUNDS. THE PM ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY IN BUDAPEST, PARTICULARLY ITS ANTI-TERROR TRAINING FOR BALKAN STATES, AND WAS AWARE OF THE NEED TO DO MORE TO COUNTER THE THREAT OF TERRORISM. ¶5. (C) GOVERNOR RIDGE EXPRESSED GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE USG FOR ALL THE GOH HAD DONE TO FIGHT TERRORISM. HE WAS PLEASED THAT BUDAPEST WAS HOSTING THE ILEA; THERE WAS NO GREATER CHALLENGE FOR THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAN FINDING WAYS TO INTENSIFY THE INVOLVEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY. HE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO HEAR OF THE GOH'S COMMITMENT TO MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, SOMETHING NEEDED NOT ONLY INTERNATIONALLY BUT DOMESTICALLY WITHIN THE U.S. AS WELL. ======================== ENHANCING INTEL EXCHANGE ======================== ¶6. (S) MEDQYESSY SAID THAT IN A WORLD OF BURGEONING SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 04424 121327Z INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MANAGING AND CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WAR ON TERROR. RIDGE AGREED, NOTING THAT THE USG HAD MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN IT, BUT THEY HAD NOT NECESSARILY BEEN VERY SMART INVESTMENTS. WE WERE GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EXCHANGING INFORMATION WITH PARTNER COUNTRIES BUT HAD TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PROVIDING IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN A MANNER THAT DID NOT COMPROMISE SOURCES AND METHODS. ¶7. (S) THE PM REPLIED THAT GOH INTEL OFFICIALS ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN EXCHANGES WITH THE USG, BUT HE COULD SAFELY SAY THAT IF THERE COULD BE EVEN CLOSER COOPERATION, IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO OFFER IT. THE GOH HAD A STRONG ANALYTICAL CAPACITY, AND THE INTEL RELATIONSHIP WAS VERY GOOD AND VERY PROFESSIONAL. THE NEW HEAD OF THE RELEVANT GOH AGENCY WOULD VISIT THE U.S. IN A FEW WEEKS, WHICH WOULD BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MORE COOPERATION. THE GOH WANTED TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP DEVELOP, IN A COMPLEMENTARY WAY. ¶8. (C) RIDGE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY NEW COUNTER-TERROR RECOMMENDATIONS OR INITIATIVES BEING DEVELOPED BY THE GOH, OR IF THERE WERE ANY THINGS THE USG COULD BE DOING BETTER FOR HUNGARY. MEDQYESSY REPLIED THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, HE HAD NOT CONSIDERED THIS QUESTION. THE GOH KNEW THAT THE USG WOULD HAVE TO CARRY THE GREATEST PART OF THE BURDEN IN THE WAR ON TERROR, BUT IT WAS WILLING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT COULD DO TO ASSUME SOME OF THAT BURDEN. ====================================== SECRET PAGE 05 ROME 04424 121327Z THE ROOTS OF TERROR: FACT AND FICTION ====================================== ¶9. (U) FOLLOWING THE PM'S COMMENT ABOUT THE SHARP NATURE OF THE CONFERENCE DEBATE ON THE CAUSES OF TERRORISM, GOVERNOR RIDGE POINTED OUT THAT HE HAD TRIED TO HELP COUNTER SOME OF THE MORE DISINGENUOUS PROJECTIONS PUT FORWARD BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, FOR EXAMPLE THE ARGUMENT THAT POVERTY OR SOCIAL INEQUITY WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF TERROR. THERE WAS NO NEXUS AT ALL BETWEEN USAMA BIN LADEN'S TYPE OF TERROR AND POVERTY; ELIMINATING POVERTY WORLDWIDE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A NOBLE GOAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TERRORISM. =================================== IRAQ: GOH APPEAL FOR CONSULTATIONS =================================== ¶10. (U) IN RESPONSE TO MEDQYESSY'S QUESTION ON USG POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, RIDGE NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD BEGUN CONSULTATIONS WITH CONGRESS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE PAST WEEK, AND WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN HIS FORTHCOMING UNGA SPEECH. THESE ACTIONS WOULD HELP DISPEL THE MISTAKEN SPECULATION ABOUT USG PLANS TO ACT UNILATERALLY. RIDGE CAUTIONED THE PM NOT TO READ TOO MUCH INTO MEDIA REPORTS OF DISAGREEMENTS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. AS SECRETARY POWELL HAD SAID, SOME OF THE REPORTED DIFFERENCES SIPDIS WERE REAL, SOME PERCEIVED, AND SOME IMAGINARY. THE PRESIDENT WAS A DECISIVE LEADER WHO ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO EXPRESS DIVERGENT VIEWS, BUT THERE WAS NO DISAGREEMENT AT ALL THAT SADDAM'S PURSUIT OF WMD CONSTITUTED A MENACE NOT JUST TO THE SECRET PAGE 06 ROME 04424 121327Z U.S. BUT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. ¶11. (C) MEDQYESSY SAID HE EXPECTED SADDAM TO TRY AND BUY TIME BY ALLOWING UN INSPECTORS BACK INTO IRAQ, ALTHOUGH HE DOUBTED SADDAM WAS THINKING MUCH BEYOND THAT NEXT MOVE. THE PM STRESSED THAT THE TIMING OF USG CONSULTATIONS WITH ITS NATO ALLIES ABOUT ANY USE OF FORCE WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE; AKOTS, WHO HAD NOT SAID A WORD UP TO THIS POINT, ADDED EMPHATICALLY, "YOU ASKED HOW YOU COULD HELP US? DON'T TAKE US BY SURPRISE." GOVERNOR RIDGE AND CDA ASSURED MEDQYESSY THAT THE CIRCLE OF CONSULTATION WOULD WIDEN BEYOND THE PERM FIVE. AKOTS SAID THE GOH REALIZED CONSULTATIONS WOULD NATURALLY TAKE PLACE ON MANY LEVELS -- THE UN, NATO, BILATERALLY -- AND HOPED THE USG RECOGNIZED THAT EACH SET OF CONSULTATIONS SERVED A DISTINCT PURPOSE AND SO WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROACHED DIFFERENTLY. 12 (C) THE PM CONCLUDED THE DISCUSSION ON IRAQ BY TELLING GOVERNOR RIDGE "WE ARE AND WILL BE RELIABLE PARTNERS; YOU CAN COUNT ON US." GOVERNOR RIDGE CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE PM'S MESSAGE THAT THE GOH NEEDED MORE CLARITY ABOUT USG INTENTIONS, AND ASSURED HIM IT WOULD BE FORTHCOMING THROUGH THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND EMBASSY IN BUDAPEST. (FOLLOWING THE MEETING, AKOTS BUTTONHOLED CHARGE TO EXPLAIN THAT THE GOH DESIRE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IRAQ WAS DRIVEN BY ITS NEED TO EDUCATE AND PREPARE THE HUNGARIAN ELECTORATE, WHERE SENTIMENT WAS CURRENTLY RUNNING AGAINST THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.) 13 (U) THIS CABLE WAS CLEARED BY EMBASSY BUDAPEST AND GOVERNOR RIDGE'S STAFF. SECRET PAGE 07 ROME 04424 121327Z SEMBLER SECRET > @@@OASYS@@@ SECRET PTQ0136 PAGE 01 ROME 04424 01 OF 02 121152Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- E645EE 121153Z /03 P 120910Z SEP 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5783 INFO AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 004424 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2012 TAGS: MOPS PREL HU IT PREL HU IT PREL HU IT IZ IZMOPS IZMOPS SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN PM ASSURES HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE OF CONTINUING GOH SUPPORT CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON, REASON 1.5 (B & D) ======= SUMMARY ======= ¶1. (S) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER MEDQYESSY ASSURED HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE OF GOH SUPPORT FOR THE WAR ON TERROR, INCLUDING ITS CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO STEMMING FINANCIAL SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 04424 01 OF 02 121152Z SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM AND TO HOSTING THE ILEA IN BUDAPEST. THE GOH WAS ALSO WILLING TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE BILATERAL INTEL-SHARING RELATIONSHIP IN A "COMPLEMENTARY" MANNER. IN THE CONTEXT OF AN EXCHANGE ON POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, MEDQYESSY TOLD RIDGE "YOU CAN COUNT ON US" BUT APPEALED FOR CLOSE CONSULTATION PRIOR TO ANY USE OF FORCE. THE PM'S CHIEF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY ADVISOR, KLARA AKOTS, SECONDED THE PLEA FOR "NO SURPRISES" AND EXPLAINED THAT THE GOH WOULD NEED TIME TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION AMONGST THE HUNGARIAN ELECTORATE. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) GOVERNOR TOM RIDGE, ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, MET ON 7 SEPTEMBER WITH HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER PETER MEDQYESSY TO DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE WAR ON TERROR. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE IN CERNOBBIO, NORTH OF MILAN, WHERE BOTH RIDGE AND MEDQYESSY WERE ATTENDING THE ANNUAL AMBROSETTI CONFERENCE. ALSO PRESENT WERE CHIEF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY ADVISOR TO THE PM KLARA AKOTS, A GOH INTERPRETER AND A GOH NOTETAKER, AND CHARGE D'AFFAIRES SKODON. ============================================= =========== GOH SUPPORT FOR WAR ON TERROR: FINANCIAL CONTROLS, ILEA ============================================= =========== ¶3. (C) MEDQYESSY BEGAN THE MEETING BY EMPHASIZING THAT THE USG COULD DEPEND ON GOH ASSISTANCE IN THE WAR ON TERROR. THE GOH HAD ASSESSED 9-11 AS AN ATTACK ON THE WORLD COMMUNITY, NOT THE U.S. ALONE. IT WANTED TO COOPERATE AS MUCH AS IT COULD IN THE WORLD'S RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS. SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 04424 01 OF 02 121152Z ¶4. (C) THE PM SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT HUNGARY HAD BEEN ON A LIST OF NATIONS WHICH HAD INADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS BY CRIMINAL AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THANKS TO NEW LEGISLATIVE MEASURES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LIST -- "THANK GOD." (COMMENT: WE ASSUME THE PM WAS REFERRING TO THE FATF "BLACKLIST." END COMMENT.) MEDGYESSY RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOKING OFF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM, AND ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT THE GOH HAD DONE AND WOULD DO WHAT IT COULD TO HALT THE FLOW OF FUNDS. THE PM ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY IN BUDAPEST, PARTICULARLY ITS ANTI-TERROR TRAINING FOR BALKAN STATES, AND WAS AWARE OF THE NEED TO DO MORE TO COUNTER THE THREAT OF TERRORISM. ¶5. (C) GOVERNOR RIDGE EXPRESSED GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE USG FOR ALL THE GOH HAD DONE TO FIGHT TERRORISM. HE WAS PLEASED THAT BUDAPEST WAS HOSTING THE ILEA; THERE WAS NO GREATER CHALLENGE FOR THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAN FINDING WAYS TO INTENSIFY THE INVOLVEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY. HE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO HEAR OF THE GOH'S COMMITMENT TO MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, SOMETHING NEEDED NOT ONLY INTERNATIONALLY BUT DOMESTICALLY WITHIN THE U.S. AS WELL. ======================== ENHANCING INTEL EXCHANGE ======================== ¶6. (S) MEDQYESSY SAID THAT IN A WORLD OF BURGEONING SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 04424 01 OF 02 121152Z INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, MANAGING AND CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF INFORMATION WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WAR ON TERROR. RIDGE AGREED, NOTING THAT THE USG HAD MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN IT, BUT THEY HAD NOT NECESSARILY BEEN VERY SMART INVESTMENTS. WE WERE GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EXCHANGING INFORMATION WITH PARTNER COUNTRIES BUT HAD TO DO A BETTER JOB OF PROVIDING IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN A MANNER THAT DID NOT COMPROMISE SOURCES AND METHODS. ¶7. (S) THE PM REPLIED THAT GOH INTEL OFFICIALS ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN EXCHANGES WITH THE USG, BUT HE COULD SAFELY SAY THAT IF THERE COULD BE EVEN CLOSER COOPERATION, IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO OFFER IT. THE GOH HAD A STRONG ANALYTICAL CAPACITY, AND THE INTEL RELATIONSHIP WAS VERY GOOD AND VERY PROFESSIONAL. THE NEW HEAD OF THE RELEVANT GOH AGENCY WOULD VISIT THE U.S. IN A FEW WEEKS, WHICH WOULD BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MORE COOPERATION. THE GOH WANTED TO SEE THE RELATIONSHIP DEVELOP, IN A COMPLEMENTARY WAY. ¶8. (C) RIDGE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY NEW COUNTER-TERROR RECOMMENDATIONS OR INITIATIVES BEING DEVELOPED BY THE GOH, OR IF THERE WERE ANY THINGS THE USG COULD BE DOING BETTER FOR HUNGARY. MEDQYESSY REPLIED THAT, QUITE HONESTLY, HE HAD NOT SECRET SECRET PTQ0137 PAGE 01 ROME 04424 02 OF 02 121153Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W -------------- E645FC 121153Z /03 P 120910Z SEP 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5784 INFO AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 004424 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2012 TAGS: MOPS PREL HU IT PREL HU IT PREL HU IT IZ IZMOPS IZMOPS SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN PM ASSURES HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE OF CONTINUING GOH SUPPORT CONSIDERED THIS QUESTION. THE GOH KNEW THAT THE USG WOULD HAVE TO CARRY THE GREATEST PART OF THE BURDEN IN THE WAR ON TERROR, BUT IT WAS WILLING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT COULD DO TO ASSUME SOME OF THAT BURDEN. ====================================== THE ROOTS OF TERROR: FACT AND FICTION ====================================== SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 04424 02 OF 02 121153Z ¶9. (U) FOLLOWING THE PM'S COMMENT ABOUT THE SHARP NATURE OF THE CONFERENCE DEBATE ON THE CAUSES OF TERRORISM, GOVERNOR RIDGE POINTED OUT THAT HE HAD TRIED TO HELP COUNTER SOME OF THE MORE DISINGENUOUS PROJECTIONS PUT FORWARD BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, FOR EXAMPLE THE ARGUMENT THAT POVERTY OR SOCIAL INEQUITY WAS THE ROOT CAUSE OF TERROR. THERE WAS NO NEXUS AT ALL BETWEEN USAMA BIN LADEN'S TYPE OF TERROR AND POVERTY; ELIMINATING POVERTY WORLDWIDE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A NOBLE GOAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TERRORISM. =================================== IRAQ: GOH APPEAL FOR CONSULTATIONS =================================== ¶10. (U) IN RESPONSE TO MEDQYESSY'S QUESTION ON USG POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, RIDGE NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD BEGUN CONSULTATIONS WITH CONGRESS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE PAST WEEK, AND WOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN HIS FORTHCOMING UNGA SPEECH. THESE ACTIONS WOULD HELP DISPEL THE MISTAKEN SPECULATION ABOUT USG PLANS TO ACT UNILATERALLY. RIDGE CAUTIONED THE PM NOT TO READ TOO MUCH INTO MEDIA REPORTS OF DISAGREEMENTS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. AS SECRETARY POWELL HAD SAID, SOME OF THE REPORTED DIFFERENCES SIPDIS WERE REAL, SOME PERCEIVED, AND SOME IMAGINARY. THE PRESIDENT WAS A DECISIVE LEADER WHO ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO EXPRESS DIVERGENT VIEWS, BUT THERE WAS NO DISAGREEMENT AT ALL THAT SADDAM'S PURSUIT OF WMD CONSTITUTED A MENACE NOT JUST TO THE U.S. BUT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. ¶11. (C) MEDQYESSY SAID HE EXPECTED SADDAM TO TRY AND BUY TIME SECRET PAGE 03 ROME 04424 02 OF 02 121153Z BY ALLOWING UN INSPECTORS BACK INTO IRAQ, ALTHOUGH HE DOUBTED SADDAM WAS THINKING MUCH BEYOND THAT NEXT MOVE. THE PM STRESSED THAT THE TIMING OF USG CONSULTATIONS WITH ITS NATO ALLIES ABOUT ANY USE OF FORCE WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE; AKOTS, WHO HAD NOT SAID A WORD UP TO THIS POINT, ADDED EMPHATICALLY, "YOU ASKED HOW YOU COULD HELP US? DON'T TAKE US BY SURPRISE." GOVERNOR RIDGE AND CDA ASSURED MEDQYESSY THAT THE CIRCLE OF CONSULTATION WOULD WIDEN BEYOND THE PERM FIVE. AKOTS SAID THE GOH REALIZED CONSULTATIONS WOULD NATURALLY TAKE PLACE ON MANY LEVELS -- THE UN, NATO, BILATERALLY -- AND HOPED THE USG RECOGNIZED THAT EACH SET OF CONSULTATIONS SERVED A DISTINCT PURPOSE AND SO WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROACHED DIFFERENTLY. 12 (C) THE PM CONCLUDED THE DISCUSSION ON IRAQ BY TELLING GOVERNOR RIDGE "WE ARE AND WILL BE RELIABLE PARTNERS; YOU CAN COUNT ON US." GOVERNOR RIDGE CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE PM'S MESSAGE THAT THE GOH NEEDED MORE CLARITY ABOUT USG INTENTIONS, AND ASSURED HIM IT WOULD BE FORTHCOMING THROUGH THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND EMBASSY IN BUDAPEST. (FOLLOWING THE MEETING, AKOTS BUTTONHOLED CHARGE TO EXPLAIN THAT THE GOH DESIRE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON IRAQ WAS DRIVEN BY ITS NEED TO EDUCATE AND PREPARE THE HUNGARIAN ELECTORATE, WHERE SENTIMENT WAS CURRENTLY RUNNING AGAINST THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.) 13 (U) THIS CABLE WAS CLEARED BY EMBASSY BUDAPEST AND GOVERNOR RIDGE'S STAFF. SEMBLER SECRET PAGE 04 ROME 04424 02 OF 02 121153Z SECRET > 2002ROME04424 - Classification: SECRET