MFO: ITALY CANNOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000323

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2013
TAGS: KMFO PREL IT IS EG NATO
SUBJECT: MFO: ITALY CANNOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US
MEDICAL FORCES

REF: A. SECSTATE 15162

B. ROME 278

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 00323 281702Z
CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

(C) ON JAN. 27, FRANCESCO TRUPIANO, THE MOD DIPLOMATIC
ADVISOR, REPORTED TO POLMIL OFFICER THAT ITALY DOES NOT
CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE USG REQUEST TO
PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US MEDICAL FORCES IN THE MFO (REF
A.) TRUPIANO STRESSED THAT THE GOI STUDIED THE USG REQUEST
VERY CAREFULLY. HOWEVER, TRUPIANO SAID THAT THE GOI, FOR THE
TIME BEING, IS UNABLE TO SUPPORT OUR MFO REQUEST SINCE THE
GOI:
-- ALREADY COMMITS 10,000 PERSONNEL TO INTERNATIONAL
PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS, MOSTLY IN THE BALKANS
AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
-- IS COMMITTING 1,000 ALPINI TROOPS TO OEF.
-- NEEDS TO RESERVE SOME OF ITS FORCES AND ASSETS FOR
NATIONAL CONTINGENCIES RANGING FROM DISASTER RELIEF TO
HOMELAND SECURITY.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2003ROME00323 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL