LIBYAN CHAIR OF CHR-59: ITALY STILL OPPOSED TO A

S E C R E T ROME 000109

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2013
TAGS: PHUM LY IT UNHCR
SUBJECT: LIBYAN CHAIR OF CHR-59: ITALY STILL OPPOSED TO A
VOTE

REF: SECSTATE 5849

SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 00109 101709Z
CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) ON JAN. 9, CHARGE AND POL MC CALLED ON CESARE
RAGAGLINI, FM FRATINI'S CHEF DE CABINET, RAISED REFTEL WITH
HIM BRIEFLY, AND ADVISED HIM WE WOULD RAISE IT IN MORE DETAIL
WITH THE MFA'S MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.


2. (C) IN THE ABSENCE OF AMBASSADOR ANTONIO BADINI, THE MFA'S
DG FOR MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS AND THE POC ON THIS LIBYAN
ISSUE, POL MC CALLED JAN. 9 ON ANTONIO BELLAVIA, THE MFA'S
OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR LIBYA AND THE MAGHREB COUNTRIES. POL MC
DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE, EMPHASIZED THE REASONS THAT COMPEL
THE USG TO CALL FOR A VOTE, AND UNDERLINED THAT OUR INTENTION
IS TO ENHANCE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION BOTH
INTERNATIONALLY AND WITHIN THE U.S., NOT TO DISRUPT ITS WORK
OR SET AN UNHELPFUL PRECEDENT.


3. (S) BELLAVIA APPRECIATED BEING INFORMED OF THE USG
DECISION IN ADVANCE OF THE JAN. 20 VOTE. HE SAID THAT THE EU
CAUCUS IN GENEVA JAN. 8 AGREED TO PROPOSE TO THE U.S. A WEOG
STATEMENT (IN LIEU OF A VOTE) STATING THAT THE WEOG IS UNABLE
TO ACCEPT THE LIBYAN CANDIDACY BY ACCLAMATION.


4. (C) LABOR COUNSELOR ALSO CALLED ON GIUSEPPE CALVETTA, THE
MFA'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE DIRECTOR, AND DELIVERED REFTEL
DEMARCHE. CALVETTA SIMPLY NOTED THAT ITALY WOULD HAVE
PREFERRED A NO VOTE AND WILL NOW WORK ON MINIMIZING ANY
DISRUPTION TO THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION CAUSED BY THE VOTE.

SKODON
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 00109 101709Z

SECRET

>
2003ROME00109 - Classification: SECRET