ITALY: MANPADS INITIATIVE DELIVERED

S E C R E T ROME 000342 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2013 TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL IT EXPORT CONTROLS ANTITERRORISM FORCE PROTECTION SUBJECT: ITALY: MANPADS INITIATIVE DELIVERED REF: SECSTATE 17914 SECRET PAGE 02 ROME 00342 291548Z CLASSIFIED BY: ECONOMIC COUNSELOR KAREN MILLIKEN FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D) (S) ECONOFF DELIVERED REFTEL NONPAPER ON THE U.S. INITIATIVE TO COUNTER THE DANGER OF MAN PORTABLE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS (MANPADS) TO MFA NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR UGO DE MOHR ON JANUARY 28. DE MOHR TOLD US THE GOI WILL CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE U.S. INITIATIVE. HE COMMENTED THAT HE AGREED WITH THE U.S. VIEW THAT TERRORISM DIFFERENTIATES THE THREAT OF MANPADS FROM THAT OF OTHER SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS. HE FURTHER NOTED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT ANY POTENTIAL ITALIAN EXPORT OF MANPADS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER ITALIAN EXPORT CONTROL LAW, BUT WILL INQUIRE TO ENSURE THAT IS THE CASE. SKODON SECRET > 2003ROME00342 - Classification: SECRET