Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME3045
2003-07-03 14:31:00
SECRET
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY FLAGS DISCUSSION POINTS FOR PSI BRISBANE

Tags:  PARM PREL MNUC KNNP IT EUN 
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S E C R E T ROME 003045 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY FLAGS DISCUSSION POINTS FOR PSI BRISBANE
MEETINGS

REF: A. A) STATE 189947

B. B) 02 ROME 6158

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5(B)(D)

S E C R E T ROME 003045

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY FLAGS DISCUSSION POINTS FOR PSI BRISBANE
MEETINGS

REF: A. A) STATE 189947

B. B) 02 ROME 6158

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (S) POST CONVEYED REFTEL LETTER TO PAOLO CUCULI IN THE
MFA DISARMAMENT OFFICE ON JULY 2. CUCULI WILL ACCOMPANY
FILIPPO FORMICA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DISARMAMENT OFFICE, TO
THE JULY 9-10 MEETINGS IN AUSTRALIA AND IS INVOLVED IN
PREPARING ITALY'S CONTRIBUTIONS ON THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY
INITIATIVE (PSI). (NOTE: FORMICA IS OUT OF ROME UNTIL JULY

4. AMB. ARAGONA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE BRISBANE
MEETING BECAUSE OF EU PRESIDENCY-RELATED DUTIES IN ROME.
FORMICA AND THE REST OF ITALY'S DELEGATION WILL DEPART FOR
AUSTRALIA ON JULY 7. END NOTE.)


2. (S) CUCULI FLAGGED THREE POINTS IN PARTICULAR THAT HE SAID
WERE DISCUSSED DURING A GOI INTERAGENCY MEETING TO REVIEW THE
RULES OF THE ROAD. HE EXPECTS THESE ISSUES WILL ALSO BE
RAISED IN BRISBANE. FIRST, ANY MEASURES WILL NEED TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH EU COMMON REGULATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE
EC ALREADY HAS AN EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE
(TRANSPORT, FOREIGN TRADE). SECOND, BLACKLISTING COUNTRIES
AND NON-STATE PROLIFERATORS RATHER THAN TYPES OF ILLICIT
BEHAVIOR MAY RUN CONTRARY TO ITALIAN AND EU LEGISLATION.
LISTS OF COUNTRIES SANCTIONED BY A UN OR EU EMBARGO CURRENTLY
ARE THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS.


3. (S) THE THIRD POINT RELATES TO A DRAFT TECHNICAL AGREEMENT
THE GOI PROPOSED IN 2002 (REFTEL B) IN RESPONSE TO THE USG'S
OVERTURES FOR INCREASED COOPERATION ON MARITIME INTERCEPT
OPERATIONS (MIOS). THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT WOULD CREATE A
RECIPROCAL INFORMATION-EXCHANGE MECHANISM AND WOULD
STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURE FOR BOARDING SHIPS FLYING THE OTHER
COUNTRY'S FLAG IN NON-TERRITORIAL WATERS. (TEXT OF THE
AGREEMENT WAS FAXED TO EUR/WE ON 12/30/02). THE GOI CRAFTED
THE AGREEMENT AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING THE SOVEREIGNTY
CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN ALLOWING NON-ITALIAN SHIPS TO
STOP, SEARCH AND SEIZE ITALIAN VESSELS. ITALY NOW IS
SUGGESTING THAT PSI COUNTRIES MAY WISH TO CONSIDER SOMETHING
SIMILAR AMONG LIKE-MINDED STATES AS A WAY TO STRENGTHEN
INTERDICTION COOPERATION.


4. (S) A READ-OUT WE RECEIVED OF THE GOI INTERAGENCY MEETING
NOTED THAT ITALIAN LAW PERMITS ITALIAN MILITARY, POLICE AND
SECURITY FORCES TO INTERDICT ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN WMD AND
RELATED MATERIALS THAT OCCURS WITHIN ITALIAN TERRITORY,
TERRITORIAL WATERS AND NATIONAL AIRSPACE, REGARDLESS OF THE
FLAG OF THE SUSPECTED VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT. THE ITALIAN NAVY
ALSO IS AUTHORIZED TO STOP, SEARCH AND SEIZE SUSPECTED
ITALIAN VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. IN ADDITION TO THE
DRAFT TECHNICAL AGREEMENT DISCUSSED ABOVE, CUCULI SAID THE
GOI IS STUDYING OTHER OPTIONS FOR BOARDINGS OF ITALIAN
VESSELS BY PSI PARTNER COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS BOARDINGS OF
NON-ITALIAN VESSELS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS BY ITALIAN AND
OTHER PSI PARTNER COUNTRIES. FORMICA AND HIS DELEGATION WILL
BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES AT THE BRISBANE MEETINGS
NEXT WEEK.


5. (S) POST DELIVERED USG INPUT FOR BRISBANE MEETING RECEIVED
BY E-MAIL ON JUNE 3 TO CUCULI.
SEMBLER

NNNN
2003ROME03045 - Classification: SECRET