Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME1564
2003-04-11 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

U/S BOLTON BRIEFS ITALIAN OFFICIALS

Tags:  PARM MOPS PREL IT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001564 

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TAGS: PARM MOPS PREL MOPS PREL IT ITPARM
SUBJECT: U/S BOLTON BRIEFS ITALIAN OFFICIALS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001564

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TAGS: PARM MOPS PREL MOPS PREL IT ITPARM
SUBJECT: U/S BOLTON BRIEFS ITALIAN OFFICIALS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY. UNDERSECRETARY BOLTON BRIEFED SENIOR ITALIAN
OFFICIALS ON IRAQ, NORTH KOREAN, IRAN AND OTHER
NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES IN ROME ON APRIL 9, FOLLOWING HIS
MEETINGS AT THE VATICAN (REPORTED SEPTEL). THE ITALIANS ARE
ANXIOUS TO REPAIR RIFTS IN THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE,
PARTICULARLY DURING THE UPCOMING ITALIAN EU PRESIDENCY, AND
VIEW NON-PROLIFERATION AS AN AREA WHERE THE US AND EUROPE CAN
WORK TOGETHER. THEY AGREE THAT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN POSE
SERIOUS NON-PROLIFERATION RISKS THAT WILL REQUIRE COORDINATED
EFFORTS BY THE US AND EUROPE. END SUMMARY.

IRAQ AND TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE
--------------

2. (C) AT A DCM-HOSTED LUNCH AND IN A SEPARATE MEETING WITH
MFA SECRETARY GENERAL AMBASSADOR BALDOCCI, U/S BOLTON TOLD
SENIOR ITALIAN OFFICIALS THAT THE USG'S FOCUS IS ON STANDING
UP AN IRAQI-LED GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS FEASIBLE, NOT ON A US
OCCUPATION OR A UN ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNTRY. AS
EVIDENCE OF IRAQ'S WMD PROGRAM IS UNCOVERED AND IRAQIS
CELEBRATE THEIR FREEDOM, THE DEBATE OVER THE DECISION TO WAGE
WAR WILL FADE. SECURITY FORCES WILL BE NEEDED TO CONTROL
ANARCHY THAT MAY ERUPT BETWEEN SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FALL AND THE
INSTALLATION OF AN INTERIM AUTHORITY, HE SAID. SEVERAL OF
THE ITALIANS ATTENDING THE LUNCH RESPONDED THAT FINDING A
ROLE FOR NATO, THE EU AND THE UN WILL BE IMPORTANT TO
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RESTORING CONSENSUS AND ESTABLISHING A NEW WORLD ORDER. THE
DCM NOTED THAT THE USG AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE HAD
JUXTAPOSED PRIORITIES; DISARMING IRAQ HAS BEEN THE USG'S
FIRST PRIORITY, FOLLOWED BY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSATLANTIC
RELATIONSHIP, WHILE EUROPE'S FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP AND THEN ON DISARMING IRAQ. IF
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WANT A ROLE IN POST-CONFLICT
IRAQ, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS;
CREATING A ROLE JUST TO LEGITIMIZE THEM WON'T SERVE ANYONE'S

INTEREST, HE SAID. FRANCESCO TALO, A DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR TO
THE PRIME MINISTER, SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY BE MORE PRACTICAL
TO START AT NATO, WITH ITS LINKS TO SECURITY ISSUES LIKE WMD
AND STABILIZATION, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD TO THE LARGER UN
FORUM.


3. (C) IN A SEPARATE MEETING, AMBASSADOR BALDOCCI PREDICTED
THE POST-CONFLICT PERIOD IN IRAQ WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN
IN KOSOVO. A PRAGMATIC DECISION ON HOW BEST TO USE THE UN --
ADMITTEDLY AN IMPORTANT ASSET -- WOULD BE CRUCIAL, HE SAID.
THE MFA HAS SET UP AN INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO COORDINATE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED ONCE THE MECHANISMS ARE IN
PLACE. BALDOCCI EMPHASIZED THAT THE GOI WANTS TO REPAIR
RIFTS IN TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS AND FOCUS ON COOPERATION
DURING ITS EU PRESIDENCY. U/S BOLTON NOTED THAT WINNING THE
PEACE IN IRAQ WILL BE A BIG JOB. MANY IRAQIS SEE EXISTING
NETWORKS FOR DISTRIBUTING ASSISTANCE OR MAINTAINING SECURITY
AS UNDER BA'ATH PARTY CONTROL; THOSE NETWORKS WILL NEED TO BE
RECREATED, BY CHURCHES, MOSQUES AND NEW IRAQI AUTHORITIES, IN
ORDER TO EARN THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE.

NORTH KOREA
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4. (C) THE ITALIANS ATTENDING THE DCM'S LUNCH VIEWED NORTH
KOREA AS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IRAQ, GIVEN THE DPRK TENDENCY
TOWARD UNPREDICTABLE POLICY-MAKING. MINISTER MARTINI, MFA DG
FOR ASIA (AND FORMER AMBASSADOR TO SEOUL),SAID THE DPRK
AMBASSADOR TO ITALY CONTINUES TO REPEAT THAT NORTH KOREA IS
READY TO RETURN TO THE NPT IF THE US AGREES TO BILATERAL
DISCUSSIONS. (NOTE: MARTINI HAD TOLD HIM THIS WOULD BE
"IMPOSSIBLE." END NOTE.) U/S BOLTON REVIEWED USG VARIOUS
ATTEMPTS TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION, BUT STRESSED THAT
THE ANSWER IS NOT AGREED FRAMEWORK. HE SAID RECENT CHINESE
ACTIONS MAY INDICATE THAT CHINA RECOGNIZES IT CAN AND SHOULD
PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN INFLUENCING NORTH KOREA'S BEHAVIOR. ON
THE OTHER HAND, CHINA, ALONG WITH RUSSIA, HASN'T BEEN HELPFUL
IN THE UNSC ON DPRK. GIVEN THE THREAT NORTH KOREA'S ACTIONS
POSE TO JAPAN, AND THE DELICATE SECURITY BALANCE IN ASIA, ITS
SURPRISING CHINA HASN'T DONE MORE, U/S BOLTON COMMENTED.


5. (C) MINISTER TREZZA, MFA COORDINATOR FOR INTERNATIONAL
SECURITY POLICY (AND ANOTHER EX-AMBASSADOR TO SEOUL),NOTED
THAT NORTH KOREA IS AN ISSUE ON WHICH THE US AND EU ARE IN
SYNCH. THE BIG DIPLOMATIC PUSH SHOULD BE ON THE CHINESE, HE
SAID. ITALY IS OUT IN FRONT WITHIN THE EU ON EFFORTS TO MOVE
THE DPRK IMPASSE FORWARD, AND WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS AT THE

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ACTION AC-01

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00
DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-00 VCE-00 NRRC-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 DHS-00
PM-00 ACE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
PRM-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 546A98 111559Z /38
O 111559Z APR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9228
INFO NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL MILAN IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL NAPLES IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 001564

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UPCOMING EU SPECIAL SESSION ON NORTH KOREA. THE FACT THE
DPRK IS ASKING FOR SECURITY ASSURANCES WHILE FORFEITING THE
NEGATIVE SECURITY ASSURANCES PROVIDED BY THE NPT MAY BE A
POINT WORTH PURSUING, HE SAID. BOLTON WELCOMED CREATIVE
SUGGESTIONS, AND POINTED TO NORTH KOREA AS ANOTHER ISSUE
WHERE ITALY COULD PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE DURING ITS EU
PRESIDENCY. THE USG IS CONSIDERING URGING COUNTRIES LIKE
EGYPT, SYRIA AND YEMEN NOT TO BUY WEAPONS FROM NORTH KOREA AS
A WAY OF REDUCING REVENUES TO THE REGIME, HE EXPLAINED.
ITALY MIGHT USE ITS RAPPORT WITH LIBYA TO CONVEY SUCH A
MESSAGE, IF SUCH AN APPROACH IS ADOPTED, U/S BOLTON
SUGGESTED.

IRAN
--------------

6. (C) AT THE LUNCH, TREZZA SUGGESTED THAT IRAN'S NUCLEAR
PROGRAM IS LOOMING AS THE NEXT CRISIS. THE EU CONSENSUS ON
HOW TO DEFUSE THE SITUATION IS THAT IRAN MUST AGREE TO ADHERE
TO THE IAEA ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL AND THE CODE OF CONDUCT ON
MISSILES. A TOKEN GESTURE FROM ISRAEL, SUCH AS RATIFYING THE
CWC, WOULD HELP UNDERMINE THE IRANIAN RETORT THAT THEY WON'T
SIGN UP UNTIL ISRAEL DOES, HE SAID. U/S BOLTON SAID
PRESIDENT BUSH IS COMMITTED TO MAKING PROGRESS IN THE MID
EAST, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE ARAB-ISRAEL ISSUE AS WELL. THE
IAEA AND MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING RUSSIA, WERE STUNNED BY
THE SOPHISTICATION AND EXTENSIVENESS OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR
WEAPONS PROGRAM FOLLOWING THE IAEA VISIT, HE SAID. THE JUNE
IAEA BOARD MEETING OFFERS THE CHANCE TO LAY BARE THE ADVANCED
STATE OF IRAN'S CAPABILITIES, AND TO MAKE PLAIN IRAN'S
EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY.
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7. (C) DURING HIS MEETING WITH U/S BOLTON, AMBASSADOR
BALDOCCI ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROGRAM. HE STRESSED THAT, WHILE ITALY HAS GOOD RELATIONS
WITH IRAN, ITALIAN OFFICIALS ALWAYS PRESS THE IRANIANS ON
HUMAN RIGHTS AND NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES AND WILL CONTINUE
TO DO SO. THIS WILL BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL DURING ITALY'S EU
PRESIDENCY, U/S BOLTON SAID. HIS RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH
FRENCH OFFICIALS ON NORTH KOREA AND IRAN WERE FURTHER
INDICATIONS THAT NON-PROLIFERATION ISSUES MAY OFFER
CONSTRUCTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING COOPERATION BETWEEN
THE EU AND THE US. RESPONDING TO A QUESTION, U/S BOLTON
NOTED THAT THE G-8 COULD NOT SERVE AS A FORUM FOR ADDRESSING
IRAN'S WEAPONS PROGRAM BECAUSE RUSSIA IS INTERNALLY DIVIDED
ON THE ISSUE. SOME KIND OF A FOREIGN MINISTERS' STATEMENT ON
DPRK, HOWEVER, WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, HE ADDED, ALTHOUGH THE
G8 FACES THE SAME PROBLEM WITH RUSSIA.

SYRIA, LIBYA
--------------

8. (C) THE OUTCOME OF THE IRAQ CONFLICT MAY CAUSE COUNTRIES
LIKE SYRIA AND LIBYA TO RE-EVALUATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR
CLANDESTINE WEAPONS PROGRAMS, U/S BOLTON TOLD THE ITALIANS.
AT THE LUNCH, MINISTER CEVESE, MFA DIRECTOR OF DISARMAMENT
AND ARMS CONTROL, SUGGESTED CONSIDERING CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS
IN LIBYA UNDER THE CWC. U/S BOLTON AGREED THAT, WITH NEW
MANAGEMENT IN PLACE, THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS ORGANIZATION MAY
NOW BE IN A POSITION TO CONDUCT CREDIBLE INSPECTIONS. HE
SAID IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE US AND EU COUNTRIES TO
KEEP UNIFIED PRESSURE ON BOTH COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS OTHERS
ASPIRING TO DEVELOP ILLEGAL WEAPONS.
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9. (U) U/S BOLTON HAS CLEARED THIS CABLE.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME01564 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL