MARTINO OUTLINES DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ FOR PARLIAMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 002200

SIPDIS

CENTCOM FOR J5, POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV EAID MOPS MCAP IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM NATO
SUBJECT: MARTINO OUTLINES DEPLOYMENT TO IRAQ FOR PARLIAMENT



1. SUMMARY: ITALIAN MOD MARTINO TOLD PARLIAMENT MAY 14 THAT
A CONTINGENT OF ABOUT 3000 MILITARY PERSONNEL WILL BE
DEPLOYED AND OPERATIONAL IN IRAQ BY MID-JULY. TWO MINESWEEPS
THAT ARE ALREADY IN THEATER WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL SOONER.
AN ADVANCE TEAM WILL DEPART FOR IRAQ WITHIN DAYS TO ASSESS
ON-THE-GROUND NEEDS FOR THE TROOPS. PARLIAMENT APPROVED
MILITARY SUPPORT IN AN APRIL 15 VOTE ON ITALY,S
CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE GOI IS FUNDING
THE DEPLOYMENT THROUGH AN EXPEDITED PROCESS. THE TROOPS ARE
SEPARATE FROM THE UNIT OF CARABINIERI THAT DEPARTED MAY 15
FOR IRAQ TO PROTECT THE ITALIAN RED CROSS FIELD HOSPITAL IN
BAGHDAD, ACCORDING TO MARTINO. THE CENTER-RIGHT COALITION
PRAISED MARTINO FOR KEEPING PARLIAMENT FULLY INFORMED AND
APPROVED THE MISSION. THE CENTER-LEFT OPPOSITION CRITICIZED
THE GOI FOR ITS SUBSERVIENCE TO THE U.S. END SUMMARY.

MISSION IS HUMANITARIAN, PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE FUNDING ONLY
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2. MOD MARTINO APPEARED BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE SENATE
AND CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE
COMMITTEES MAY 14 TO BRIEF ON THE PLANNED DEPLOYMENT OF
ITALIAN TROOPS TO IRAQ. HE STRESSED THAT THE MISSION -- CODE
NAMED "ANCIENT BABYLONIA" -- IS FOR HUMANITARIAN AND
RECONSTRUCTION PURPOSES, AND TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE
LOCAL POPULATION. HE STATED THAT IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST SIX
MONTHS LEAVING, HOWEVER, THE DOOR OPEN FOR A POSSIBLE
EXTENSION. HE REMARKED THAT THERE IS NO NEED FOR A
PARLIAMENTARY VOTE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE MISSION HAD
ALREADY BEEN AUTHORIZED BY PARLIAMENT IN ITS APRIL 15 VOTE,
BUT SAID PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE TO APPROVE FUNDING. THE GOI IS
PROVIDING IMMEDIATE FUNDING THROUGH A DECREE LAW THAT WILL
SOON BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT FOR ITS DISCUSSION AND FINAL
APPROVAL. MARTINO DID NOT INDICATE WHEN THE GOI WOULD
PRESENT THE DECREE, BUT SAID IT WILL INCLUDE CIVIL
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING COORDINATED BY THE
MFA. (NOTE: UNDER ITALY,S CONSTITUTION, DECREE LAWS ARE
TOOLS FOR URGENT MATTERS; THEY ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND
VALID FOR 60 DAYS. PARLIAMENT HAS 60 DAYS TO DISCUSS, AMEND
AND APPROVE A DECREE LAW OR IT EXPIRES. TO THE BEST OF OUR
KNOWLEDGE, THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH DECREES INVOLVING FUNDING
FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE MISSIONS. END NOTE.)

ITALIANS WITH THE BRITISH; WHO COMMANDS?
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3. MARTINO TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT ITALY'S AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE IN THE SOUTHERN BRITISH SECTOR. THE
ITALIAN COMMANDER, WHO WILL BE BASED IN BASRA AT THE BRITISH
DIVISIONAL COMMAND, WILL ENSURE THAT ITALIAN TROOPS ARE USED
EXCLUSIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THE ASSIGNED MISSION APPROVED BY THE
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT, WHICH WILL HAVE DISCRETION TO CHOOSE
EXCEPTIONS OR DIFFERENT USES. HE SAID THE TROOPS WILL BE
SUBJECT TO THE ITALIAN MILITARY CODE OF WAR AS IT WAS
RECENTLY AMENDED AND ASSURED PARLIAMENT THAT THEY WILL
EXERCISE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE USE OF FORCE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH
INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ITALIAN LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE
TROOPS WILL BE UNDER THE OPERATIONAL COMMAND OF THE ITALIAN
CHIEF OF DEFENSE STAFF, "BUT THE BRITISH DIVISIONAL COMMAND
HEADQUARTERED IN BASRA WILL HAVE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENTS, INCLUDING THE ITALIANS, IN THE
ENTIRE SOUTHERN SECTOR."

MARTINO EXPLAINS TASKS...
--------------


4. MARTINO CONFIRMED FM FRATTINI,S APRIL 15 STATEMENTS TO
PARLIAMENT, NOTING THAT THE ITALIAN CONTINGENT WILL BE TASKED
WITH CREATING AND MAINTAINING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT,
CONTRIBUTING TO PUBLIC ORDER AND MILITARY POLICE UNITS,
SUPPORTING DEMINING ACTIVITIES, DETECTING BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, PROVIDING HEALTH ASSISTANCE, PROVIDING
AIRPORT MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES, SUPPORTING OHRA ACTIVITIES,
AND RESTORING INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TROOPS WILL HAVE TO ENGAGE
IN RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS AND PATROLS, BUT THEIR PRESENCE ON
THE GROUND "WILL BE AS DISCREET AS POSSIBLE" AND THE
"INTERVENTION AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE SITUATIONS
OF DANGER WILL BE GUIDED BY THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICES AND
WILL BE BASED ON THE CONTINGENT'S HIGH MOBILITY, FLEXIBILITY,
AND DYNAMISM, AS WELL AS ON HELICOPTERS."

...AND DEPLOYMENT TIMING


ACTION EUR-00

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P 161611Z MAY 03
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