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 NNNN 2003ROME01833 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL