Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1506
2003-04-09 05:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

TFI01: GOI APPROACHES EMBASSY RE SAFETY OF ITALIAN

Tags:  PREL MOPS PGOV IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001506 

SIPDIS


FOR EUR, NEA, EUR/WE, PM, PA, CENTCOM POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TFI01: GOI APPROACHES EMBASSY RE SAFETY OF ITALIAN
JOURNALISTS IN BAGHDAD

CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001506

SIPDIS


FOR EUR, NEA, EUR/WE, PM, PA, CENTCOM POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TFI01: GOI APPROACHES EMBASSY RE SAFETY OF ITALIAN
JOURNALISTS IN BAGHDAD

CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).


1. (SBU) MFA SECRETARY GENERAL'S CHIEF OF STAFF, ANTONIO
ZANARDI LANDI, PHONED DCM AT THE INSTRUCTION OF FOREIGN
MINISTER FRATTINI TO EXPRESS GOI CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY OF THE
TWENTY ITALIAN JOURNALISTS AND SUPPORT STAFF IN BAGHDAD. THE
JOURNALISTS WERE AT THE HOTEL SHERATON AND THE PALESTINE
HOTEL. ZANARDI LANDI ASKED THAT THE EMBASSY CONVEY THESE
CONCERNS ASAP TO THE "APPROPRIATE U.S. AUTHORITIES."


2. (C) ZANARDI LANDI'S APPROACH CAME IN THE WAKE OF
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPORTS THAT COALITION FORCES HAD FIRED
AT THE PALESTINE HOTEL AND CAUSED CASUALTIES AMONG FOREIGN
JOURNALISTS STAYING THERE. HE TOLD DCM OFF-THE-RECORD THAT
THE MFA AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE WERE UNDER STRONG
PRESSURE FROM ITALIAN JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS TO
"DO SOMETHING" TO HELP PROTECT ITALIAN NATIONALS AMONG THE
FOREIGN MEDIA IN BAGHDAD. HENCE THE APPROACH TO THE EMBASSY.
(EARLIER IN THE DAY, FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI, SPEAKING IN
BUDAPEST WHILE ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO HUNGARY, SAID THE MFA
WOULD SEEK TO VERIFY DETAILS OF THE PALESTINE HOTEL INCIDENT.
FRATTINI ADDED THAT "WE ALL KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE ALLIED
FORCES, WHOM WE SUPPORT, DO NOT MAKE A HABIT OF FIRING ON
JOURNALISTS" AND ADDED "IT IS OUR DUTY TO REMIND COALITION
FORCES TO BE PARTICULARLY ALERT WHEN OPERATING IN AREAS WHERE
THE PRESS IS PRESENT.")


3. (C) IN RESPONSE TO DCM'S REQUESTS FOR MORE DETAIL, ZANARDI
LANDI CONFIRMED GOI UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL OF THE TWENTY
ITALIANS WERE STAYING AT ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE TWO
AFOREMENTIONED HOTELS. HE DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY WERE
AT EACH HOTEL. THE LAST CONTACT WITH THEM HAD BEEN IN THE
MORNING OF APRIL 8, ROME TIME. DCM ASKED THE JOURNALISTS'
PREFERENCE: WERE THEY SEEKING SAFEHAVEN WITH U.S. FORCES IN
BAGHDAD, DID THEY WANT TO BE EVACUATED, OR DID THEY JUST WANT
THE HOTELS TO BE NO-FIRE ZONES? ZANARDI LANDI WAS NOT SURE,
ALTHOUGH HE EXPECTED THAT AT LEAST THE SEVEN ITALIANS WHO HAD
BEEN "ARRESTED" BY IRAQI AUTHORITIES AND WERE BEING DETAINED
AT THE PALESTINE HOTEL WOULD WANT TO DEPART. THE GOI HOPED
TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THE JOURNALISTS LATER TODAY AND WOULD
PUT THESE QUESTIONS TO THEM.


4. (C) SEPARATELY, EMBASSY ODC CHIEF RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM
ITALIAN MILITARY TO ADVISE RE FEASIBILITY OF IAF C-130J
EQUIPPED WITH CHAFF AND FLARES LANDING AT BAGHDAD
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO EVACUATE ITALIANS AND OTHER
NATIONALS. THAT REQUEST BEING FORWARDED THROUGH MIL
CHANNELS. (COMMENT: THIS IS APPARENTLY ONLY A REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES AT THIS POINT AND DOES NOT
NECESSARILY PRESAGE AN IAF FLIGHT. END COMMENT.)


5. (C) ACTION REQUESTED: WE SHOULD RESPOND IN A TIMELY WAY
THAT HELPS THE GOI PREEMPT THE NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT
"RECKLESS" COALITION FORCES SURE TO BE SPUN UP BY SOME
PORTIONS OF THE ITALIAN PRESS. PLEASE ADVISE APPROPRIATE
RESPONSE TO MFA.
SEMBLER




NNNN
2003ROME01506 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL