Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1173
2003-03-20 18:18:00
SECRET
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

GOI WILL DO WHAT IT CAN TO LIMIT IRAQI OFFICIAL

Tags:  PREL PGOV IT IQ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T ROME 001173 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR INR AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV IT IQ
SUBJECT: GOI WILL DO WHAT IT CAN TO LIMIT IRAQI OFFICIAL
PRESENCE IN ITALY


CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON. REASON:1.5 (B)(D)

S E C R E T ROME 001173

SIPDIS


STATE FOR INR AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV IT IQ
SUBJECT: GOI WILL DO WHAT IT CAN TO LIMIT IRAQI OFFICIAL
PRESENCE IN ITALY


CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON. REASON:1.5 (B)(D)


1. (U) GUIDANCE REQUEST. SEE PARA 6.


2. (S) SUMMARY: ON MARCH 20, MFA CHIEF OF CABINET CESARE
RAGAGLINI SAID THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE IRAQI INTEREST
SECTION IN ROME IDENTIFIED AS INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS COULD BE
EXPELLED IMMEDIATELY. HE WONDERED IF THERE WOULD BE SOME
UTILITY IN ALLOWING THE CHARGE', WHO THE MFA BELIEVES IS NOT
WITH THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, TO REMAIN. RAGAGLINI ALSO
POINTED OUT THAT IRAQ'S EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE, WHICH THE
GOI CANNOT LEGALLY CLOSE, WOULD STILL HAVE ACCESS TO BANK
ACCOUNTS AND OTHER GOI RESOURCES. END SUMMARY.


3. (S) DRAWING ON POINTS REFTEL, POLMIN UNDERLINED WITH
RAGAGLINI THE IMPORTANCE OF LIMITING THE OFFICIAL IRAQI
PRESENCE IN ITALY. POLMIN HIGHLIGHTED THE POTENTIAL USE OF
THE IRAQI INTEREST SECTION (UNDER SUDANESE DIPLOMATIC
PROTECTION) AS A BASE FOR TERRORIST OPERATIONS, AND THE
POSSIBILITY THAT OFFICIALS OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT WOULD
PLUNDER PROPERTY WHICH RIGHTLY BELONGS TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE
AND DESTROY DIPLOMATIC RECORDS SHOULD IT BECOME APPARENT THAT
THE REGIME IN BAGHDAD WAS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE.


4. (S) RAGAGLINI AGREED THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE IRAQI
MISSION IDENTIFIED AS INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS COULD BE EXPELLED
IMMEDIATELY. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CHARGE', THAT WOULD
INCLUDE ALL IRAQI EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE DRIVER. RAGAGLINI
WONDERED IF THERE WOULD BE SOME UTILITY IN ALLOWING THE
CHARGE' TO REMAIN, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE MFA BELIEVES THAT
HE IS NOT/NOT AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. (COMMENT: RAGAGLINI,
WHO ONCE SERVED AS CHARGE IN BAGHDAD, APPEARS PERSONALLY
CONVINCED THAT THE CHARGE HERE, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO
TARIQ AZIZ, IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER). HE
ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THE
CHARGE', COULD REQUEST POLITICAL ASYLUM. RAGAGLINI SAID THAT
THE FINAL DECISION ON PNG AND INTEREST SECTION CLOSURE WOULD
BE TAKEN BY FM FRATTINI, WHO IS CURRENTLY IN BRUSSELS WITH
THE PM FOR THE EU COUNCIL.


5. (S) THE OTHER COMPLICATING FACTOR IS THE IRAQI EMBASSY
TO THE HOLY SEE, OVER WHICH THE GOI HAS LITTLE OR NO CONTROL.
THE GOI WOULD DO WHAT IT COULD, PROMISED RAGAGLINI, BUT THE
PRESENCE IN THE VATICAN MEANS THAT AS FAR AS ITALY IS
CONCERNED, CLOSING THE INTEREST SECTION IN ROME WOULD HAVE
LITTLE OR NO PRACTICAL EFFECT ON THE GOALS SPELLED OUT IN
REFTEL POINTS. THE EMBASSY TO THE VATICAN, WHICH IS
CO-LOCATED WITH THE BILATERAL DIPLOMATS, WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
BANK ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RESOURCES, UNLESS THE GOI COULD PROVE
THAT THEY WERE TO BE USED FOR TERRORIST OR OTHER ILLEGAL
ACTIVITIES. RAGAGLINI WILL ASK ITALIAN INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES TO LOOK INTO THE NATURE OF AND AMOUNTS IN THESE
ACCOUNTS. THE ONE BENEFIT FROM THE EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE
REMAINING OPEN IS THAT IT COULD TAKE CARE OF THE CONSULAR
NEEDS OF IRAQI NATIONALS IN ITALY.


6. (S) FOR DEPARTMENT: WE NOTE THAT EMBASSY VATICAN WAS NOT
REQUESTED TO UNDERTAKE REFTEL DEMARCHE. EMBASSY VATICAN
BELIEVES THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO CLOSE THE IRAQI
MISSION, GIVEN THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THEIR OWN MISSION
IN BAGHDAD AND THEIR FEAR OF REPRISALS AGAINST CHALDEAN
CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ. IN LIGHT OF BOTH THE COMPLICATIONS NOTED
ABOVE AND THE LIKELY HOLY SEE ATTITUDE, WE WOULD ASK THE
DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW WHETHER AN APPROACH TO THE HOLY SEE TO
CLOSE THE IRAQI EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE ADVISABLE.


7. (U) THIS CABLE WAS CLEARED BY BOTH EMBASSY ROME AND
EMBASSY VATICAN


SEMBLER

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2003ROME01173 - Classification: SECRET