ITALY ROLLING OUT FIELD HOSPITAL TO IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001833

SIPDIS


CENTCOM FOR POLAD, J5

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY ROLLING OUT FIELD HOSPITAL TO IRAQ

REF: A. ROME 1754

B. ROME 1618

C. ROME 1731

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL-MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS
1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) EMBASSY ROME WANTS TO EXPRESS ITS APPRECIATION TO
ALL THOSE IN THE FIELD-- ESPECIALLY AT CENTCOM--WHO ARE
ASSISTING THE GOI DEPLOY ITS RED CROSS HOSPITAL TO IRAQ. WE
UNDERSTAND ALL TOO WELL THAT UNTIL APRIL 24 THE TWO-WAY
COMMUNICATION FLOW IN TAMPA DID NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD HAVE,
BUT ARE PLEASED THAT THE DEPLOYMENT IS NOW IN TRAIN.
SENSITIVITY TO OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE LINKAGE BETWEEN GIVING
THE GREEN LIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE GOI'S ABILITY TO PUSH
FORWARD ITS PHASE IV CONTRIBUTIONS WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED
HERE.


2. (C) WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIRST ELEMENTS OF THE 100-BED
HOSPITAL (REF A)--INCLUDING FIRST AID AND SURGERY
UNITS--ARRIVED IN KUWAIT CITY ON APRIL 29 AND WILL EVENTUALLY
BE TRANSPORTED OVERLAND TO BAGHDAD. THE HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL
BE ABLE TO HANDLE AN ADDITIONAL 400 OUTPATIENT VISITORS
DAILY, WILL BE SUPPORTED INITIALLY BY FIFTEEN MEDICAL
PERSONNEL AND FIFTEEN CARABINIERI TO PROVIDE SECURITY. WE
EXPECT ANOTHER FIFTEEN CARBS TO FOLLOW ONCE THE FACILITY IS
FULLY OPERATIONAL. THE BULK OF THE HOSPITAL WILL BE
TRANSPORTED VIA SEA WITH A SHIP SCHEDULED TO DEPART THE PORT
OF LA SPEZIA ON MAY 3 AND ARRIVE IN AQABA, JORDAN ON OR ABOUT
MAY 9. THE GOI PLANS TO TRANSPORT THESE ELEMENTS FROM AQABA
TO BAGHDAD OVERLAND. COUNSELOR GIAN LUDOVICO DE MARTINO
OPENED AN ITALY INTERESTS SECTION IN BAGHDAD ON APRIL 24,
PAVING THE WAY FOR THE APRIL 27 ARRIVAL OF THE FULL-TIME
ORHA-LIAISON, ANTONIO ARMELLINI, WHO HAS ALREADY MET WITH
GEN. GARNER. NEVERTHELESS, WE WILL URGE THE GOI TO KEEP UP
THE GOOD WORK THROUGH THE LNO (GEN. SANTINI) TO ENSURE THAT
ALL THE OPERATIONAL DETAILS OF MOVING THE FACILITY'S PIECES
FALL INTO PLACE. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT, FINALLY, THEY
WILL DO SO.


3. (SBU) WE NOTED IN REF B THAT SITING A FIELD HOSPITAL IN
BETWEEN THE AL NOUMAN GENERAL HOSPITAL AND THE KHEDIMIA
PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL (NEAR SADDAM CITY) OPENS THE WAY FOR ITALY
TO REESTABLISH A LONG-TERM "SPONSORING" RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
TWO PERMANENT FACILITIES. FM FRATTINI HAS NOW SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT WITH ITALY'S RED CROSS COMMISSIONER THAT COMMITS
THE GOI TO WORK TOWARDS A RAPID RETURN TO FULL FUNCTIONALITY
OF THE TWO HOSPITALS. THIS INCLUDES DISTRIBUTING MEDICINE,
ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSIONER.


4. (C) OUR UK CONTACTS REPORT THAT THEIR PHASE IV
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ITALIAN MILITARY STAFF ARE GOING WELL.
ITALY IS COMMITTED TO STANDING UP A FORCE OF UP TO 2000 ARMY
TROOPS PLUS 400-500 CARABINIERI IN THE BRITISH SECTOR. THE
DEPLOYMENT PROBABLY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE BEFORE LATE JUNE,
ACCORDING TO THE BRITS, WITH THE EXACT LOCATION STILL TO BE
DETERMINED.


5. (C) UNDERSECRETARY TO THE PM GIANNI LETTA REPORTEDLY TOLD
DEPARTING UK AMBASSADOR SHEPERD THAT NO FURTHER AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE REQUIRED. LETTA HAD SENT A
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES AND THE
SENATE NOTIFYING THEM OF THE INITIAL CARABINIERI DETACHMENT
SLATED TO PROVIDE FORCE PROTECTION FOR THE FIELD HOSPITAL.
HE RECEIVED AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE TWO PRESIDENTS
INDICATING THAT THE PARLIAMENT HAD GRANTED ALL NECESSARY
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY PERSONNEL "TO
HELP CREATE CONDITIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID" WHEN IT APPROVED
THE GOI'S MOTION ON APRIL 15 (REF C). PER REF C, THE GOI MAY
STILL NEED TO SEEK FUNDING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT WE DO NOT
FORESEE ANY PROBLEMS ON THAT FRONT. WE EXPECT BERLUSONI
WILL BE DISCUSSING UK-ITALY PHASE IV COOPERATION DURING HIS
DINNER WITH PM BLAIR ON APRIL 30.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME01833 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL