TFIZO1: ITALY TO EXPEL IRAQI DIPLOMATS

S E C R E T ROME 001205 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV IT IRAQI FREEDOM SUBJECT: TFIZO1: ITALY TO EXPEL IRAQI DIPLOMATS REF: A. ROME 1173 ¶B. STATE 72921 CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) IN A CONVERSATION LATE ON MARCH 21, ANTONIO BADINI, DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AT THE ITALIAN MFA, TOLD POLMC THAT ITALY HAD AGREED TO THE EXPULSION OF IRAQI DIPLOMATS FROM THE BILATERAL INTERESTS SECION. THEY HAD BEEN TOLD TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS AND DEPART ROME NOT LATER THAN SUNDAY, MARCH 23. BADINI IMPLIED, BUT DID NOT DIRECTLY CONFIRM, THAT THE EXPULSIONS WOULD BE AS FORECAST BY THE MINISTER'S OFFICE REF A: I.E., TO INCLUDE ALL OFFICIALS IN THE INTERESTS SECTION, EXCEPT FOR THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. ¶2. (U) IN A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS AT ABOUT THE SAME HOUR, AS HE WAS RETURNING FROM BRUSSELS, FM FRATTINI SAID THAT ITALY WOULD RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE US REQUEST FOR EXPULSION OF IRAQI DIPLOMATS. ACCORDING TO THE PRESS REPORT, THE US HAD NOT/NOT REQUESTED THE EXPULSION OF THE HEAD OF THE INTERESTS SECTION. EMBASSY IS RESPONDING TO PRESS INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS STATEMENT BY CONFIRMING THAT THE USG REQUESTED OF MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ITALY, THE SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS OF IRAQI DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENTS; WELCOMING POSITIVE STEPS ITALY WAS TAKING IN RESPONSE; AND REFERRING BACK TO THE GOI FOR CONFIRMATION OF EXACT STEPS. ¶3. (C) EMBASSY WILL ATTEMPT OVER THE WEEKEND (ONCE FRATTINI'S STAFF HAS RETURNED TO ROME) TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THE CHARGE IS INCLUDED IN THE EXPULSION ORDER. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME01205 - Classification: SECRET