ASSISTANCE FOR SYRIAN PORT DEVELOPMENT: ITALY

S E C R E T ROME 001414 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2015 TAGS: EAID ETTC PREL SY IT EUN SUBJECT: ASSISTANCE FOR SYRIAN PORT DEVELOPMENT: ITALY WELCOMES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REF: A. STATE 68977 ¶B. 02 ROME 3718 CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KAREN MILLIKEN, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) (S) ECONOFF MET WITH MFA IRAQ DESK OFFICER FEDERICA FERRARI BRAVO ON APRIL 2 TO DISCUSS CONTINUING U.S. OPPOSITION TO ANY ASSISTANCE BY THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK IN THE PROJECT TO UPGRADE THE SYRIAN PORT OF TARTUS. AFTER EXPRESSING U.S. APPRECIATION FOR THE EC'S DECISION TO SUSPEND FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE EIB-APPROVED LOAN, ECONOFF NOTED THAT SEVERAL EU MEMBER STATES HAD INDICATED A WISH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSSHIPMENT OF ILLICIT MILITARY-RELATED AND DUAL-USE GOODS TO IRAQ THROUGH TARTUS. FERRARI, WHO HAD BEEN BRIEFED BY PERSIAN GULF AFFAIRS OFFICE DIRECTOR LUIGI MACOTTA PRIOR TO OUR VISIT (MACOTTA HAD RECEIVED OUR DEMARCHE IN JULY 2002 REGARDING THE SAME PROJECT - REF B),SAID SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY GOI CONCERNS ABOUT JUSTIFYING THE CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF THE PROJECT. SHE NEVERTHELESS WELCOMED THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDED -- AFTER TAKING EXTENSIVE NOTES, SHE TOLD US SHE WOULD SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH OTHER RELEVANT OFFICES IN THE MFA, INCLUDING THE BUREAU THAT OVERSEES ITALY'S EU AFFAIRS. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME01414 - Classification: SECRET