Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1030
2003-03-12 16:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

LIBYA/UNSC: ITALY CONTINUES TO INTERVENE WITH

Tags:  PREL IT LY UNSC 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001030 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2013
TAGS: PREL IT LY UNSC
SUBJECT: LIBYA/UNSC: ITALY CONTINUES TO INTERVENE WITH
LIBYA; VAGUE ANSWERS FROM LIBYA

REF: A. ROME 495

B. ROME 277

C. 02 SECSTATE 241030

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MC THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001030

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2013
TAGS: PREL IT LY UNSC
SUBJECT: LIBYA/UNSC: ITALY CONTINUES TO INTERVENE WITH
LIBYA; VAGUE ANSWERS FROM LIBYA

REF: A. ROME 495

B. ROME 277

C. 02 SECSTATE 241030

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MC THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 6.


2. (C) SUMMARY: DESPITE VAGUE LIBYAN ANSWERS TO ROME'S
REQUESTS THAT TRIPOLI FORGO OR AT LEAST POSTPONE ITS
CANDIDACY FOR THE UNSC, SENIOR MFA OFFICIALS SEEM CONVINCED
THAT LIBYA REMAINS SET ON PURSUING ITS UNSC CANDIDACY. POL
MC URGED THE MFA TO CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO DISCOURAGE LIBYA
FROM PURSUING ITS CANDIDACY. POL MC ALSO URGED THE MFA TO
USE ANY INFLUENCE IT MAY HAVE ON AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO PREVENT
THE LIBYANS FROM PURSUING THEIR UNSC CANDIDACY. HE
INFORMALLY RAISED THE IDEA OF WHETHER A FRANCO-ITALIAN EFFORT
ON THIS ISSUE COULD BEAR FRUIT. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) ON MARCH 10, POL MC AND NEA WATCHER MET MINISTER
EUGENIO D'AURIA AND ANTONIO BELLAVIA, ASSISTANT TO THE MFA
DG'S FOR NEA AND LIBYA OFFICE DIRECTOR, RESPECTIVELY. WHEN
ASKED ABOUT ITALY'S MOST RECENT EFFORTS TO DISSUADE LIBYA
FROM PURSUING A UNSC SEAT, D'AURIA SAID THAT AMBASSADOR
ANTONIO BADINI, THE MFA'S DG FOR NEA, RAISED U.S. CONCERNS
WITH THE LIBYAN DEPUTY FM WHILE ON AN OFFICIAL TRIP TO
TRIPOLI FEB. 20. LIBYA'S RESPONSE ON ITS UNSC CANDIDACY WAS
VAGUE, SAID D'AURIA, JUST LIKE THE LIBYAN FM'S RESPONSE WAS
VAGUE WHEN FM FRATTINI DISCUSSED THE SAME MATTER WITH HIM IN
ROME FEB. 5 (REF A.) THIS SAID, D'AURIA PREDICTED THAT LIBYA
REMAINED SET ON PURSUING ITS UNSC CANDIDACY. (NOTE: IN A
SEPARATE MEETING, BISOGNERO, THE MFA'S DEPUTY POLITICAL
DIRECTOR, SHARED THE SAME IMPRESSION WITH POL MC. END NOTE.)


4. (C) LIBYA, PREDICTED D'AURIA, WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME
APPROACH IN OBTAINING A UNSC NOMINATION AS IT DID IN SECURING
A NOMINATION FOR THE UNCHR: GET THE FULL SUPPORT OF AF
COUNTRIES FIRST, AND THEN SEEK WIDER SUPPORT. POL MC URGED
THE GOI TO USE ANY INFLUENCE IT MAY HAVE WITH AF COUNTRIES TO
DISSUADE LIBYA FROM PURSUING A UNSC CANDIDACY. D'AURIA
REPLIED THAT ITALY HAS STRONG RELATIONS WITH MANY AF
COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY ETHIOPIA, ERITREA, AND ANGOLA, AND WILL
CONSIDER THE EFFECT APPROACHING THESE COUNTRIES MAY HAVE ON
THE OUTCOME.


5. (C) POL MC INFORMALLY RAISED THE IDEA OF WHETHER AN
ITALIAN COLLABORATION WITH FRANCE, WHICH HAS STRONG RELATIONS
WITH LIBYA AND SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES, COULD PROVE
FRUITFUL IN PREVENTING LIBYA FROM PURSUING A UNSC CANDIDACY.
D'AURIA SAID HE WOULD "DISCREETLY" DISCUSS SUCH A POSSIBILITY
WITH HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART IN THEIR NEXT MEETING IN
BRUSSELS.

6. (C) EMBASSY SEEKS DEPARTMENT'S GUIDANCE ON RESPONDING TO
ITALIAN OFFICIALS WHO ARE NOW INQUIRING IF THE REPORTED
SUCCESS OF THE MARCH 11 TRILATERAL MEETING WILL CHANGE ANY
THE USG POSITION ON LIBYA'S UNSC CANDIDACY.
SEMBLER

2003ROME01030 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL