ITALY'S INPUT FOR G-8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005961

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2012
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL RS IT UN
SUBJECT: ITALY'S INPUT FOR G-8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP MEETING
CONFIDENTIAL


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REF: SECSTATE 243941

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) MFA OFFICIALS IN THE DISARMAMENT BUREAU APOLOGIZED FOR
THEIR DELAY IN RESPONDING TO REFTEL QUERIES AND HAVE NOW
SHARED WITH US THE POINTS BELOW.


2. (C) STATUS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH RUSSIANS: THE GOI MET WITH
THE GOR AT THE POLITICAL DIRECTORS LEVEL IN MOSCOW JULY
15-16, HAD AN INFORMAL MEETING IN OTTAWA ON SEPT. 26, AND
ANOTHER MEETING IN MOSCOW ON OCT. 14. THE LATEST MEETING
INVOLVED THE NATIONAL MUNITIONS AGENCY, THE MINISTRY OF
ATOMIC ENERGY (MINATOM),AND AMBASSADOR LYSSENKO AT THE MID.
THE GOI SUBMITTED TO THE GOR A DRAFT TEXT FOR A "FRAMEWORK
AGREEMENT" AND HOPES TO START NEGOTIATIONS SOON. THE
NATIONAL MUNITIONS AGENCY SUGGESTED THAT ITALY TAKE THE LEAD
FOR THE CW DESTRUCTION PLAN PROJECT IN POCHEP. THE MINATOM
WAS NOT YET PREPARED TO MAKE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.


3. (C) GUIDELINES AND PRACTICAL STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION:
THE GOI, THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT, IS SEEKING TO
TRANSPOSE INTO A LEGALLY BINDING TEXT THE POLITICAL
COMMITMENTS CONTAINED IN THE KANANASKIS GUIDELINES. IN
PARTICULAR, THE GOI ASSIGNS GREAT RELEVANCE TO ISSUES RELATED
TO LIABILITY, TAXATION, FISCAL ASPECTS, AND PRIVILEGES AND
IMMUNITIES WHICH WOULD BE GRANTED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF ITALY
WORKING ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

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4. (C) TASK FORCE: THE GOI ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE, LED BY
THE MFA AND INCLUDING ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES AND MINISTRIES,
IN PARTICULAR THE MINISTRY OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. THE
TASK FORCE IS CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON THE DESTRUCTION OF CW AND
THE DECOMMISSIONING OF NUCLEAR SUBMARINES. THE TASK FORCE
HAS UNDERSCORED THAT ITALY'S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION SHOULD BE
LINKED TO SPECIFIC AND DETAILED PROJECTS.


5. (C) CHEMICAL WEAPONS: SCHUCH'YE (GAS PIPELINE): ITALY IS
CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GAS PIPELINE IN
ORDER TO SUPPLY ENERGY TO THE DESTRUCTION FACILITY AND THE
TOWN OF SCHUCH'YE. THE GOI IS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF
EXTENDING THE PIPELINE.


6. (C) CHEMICAL WEAPONS: POCHEP (DE-TOXIFICATION OF NERVE
AGENTS): THE RUSSIANS HAVE PROPOSED IN PRINCIPLE THAT THE
ITALIANS TAKE THE LEAD IN THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
FOR THE DETOXIFICATION OF NERVE AGENTS, WITH SUBSEQUENT
TRANSFER TO THE SCHUCH'YE DESTRUCTION FACILITY. ITALY IS
STILL AWAITING SPECIFIC RUSSIAN PROPOSALS.


7. (C) NUCLEAR SUBMARINES: NO SPECIFIC PROJECT PROPOSAL HAS
BEEN SUBMITTED TO ITALY. THE GOI HAS ASKED RUSSIA FOR MORE
DETAILS ON THE SAEDA BAY PROJECT. THE POSSIBLE SUPPLY OF
HEAVY CRANES IS BEING CONSIDERED.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME05961 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL