ITALIANS ON PREPARATIONS FOR PARIS PSI MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003465

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR T, NP, EAP, EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIANS ON PREPARATIONS FOR PARIS PSI MEETING

REF: STATE 213073

CLASSIFIED BY: A/POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS
1.5(B)(D)


1. (C) ITALY'S REPORT ON THE BRISBANE PROLIFERATION SECURITY
INITIATIVE MEETING HAS BEEN CIRCULATED TO CONCERNED AGENCIES
FOR COMMENT IN PREPARATION FOR THE SEPTEMBER PARIS MEETING,
ACCORDING TO PIERO SARDI, ACTING HEAD OF THE ITALIAN MFA
DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL OFFICE. SARDI SAID IT IS
UNLIKELY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL RESPOND WITH FEEDBACK
UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST DUE TO EU PRESIDENCY DUTIES AND THE
ANNUAL SUMMER HOLIDAYS WHICH HAVE LEFT THEM SHORT-STAFFED.
ITALY'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BRISBANE MEETING, FILIPPO
FORMICA, WILL NOT BE IN THE OFFICE UNTIL AUGUST 11. FORMICA
IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE PARIS MEETING AS WELL. POL-MIL
OFFICER CONVEYED REFTEL INFORMATION REGARDING USG PLANS FOR
THE UPCOMING MEETINGS, WHICH SARDI SAID HE WOULD PASS ON TO
FORMICA UPON HIS RETURN. SARDI SAID HE PLANS TO COORDINATE
WITH PARIS TO SCHEDULE THE NEXT MEETING IN THE SECOND WEEK OF
SEPTEMBER TO AVOID CONFLICTING WITH EU WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
IN BRUSSELS SEPTEMBER 1-5.


2. (C) A/POL MINISTER COUNSELOR ALSO RAISED REFTEL POINTS
WITH GIOVANNI BRAUZZI, DIRECTOR OF THE MFA NATO AFFAIRS
OFFICE. BRAUZZI SUGGESTED THAT, AS PSI MOVES FORWARD,
PLANNERS SHOULD MAKE FULL USE OF THE EXPERIENCE EUROMARFOR
HAS GAINED DOING MARITIME INTERCEPT OPERATIONS IN THE ARABIAN
SEA.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME03465 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL