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 NNNN 2003ROME03465 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL