PSI: ITALY SETS INTERAGENCY REVIEW MEETING

S E C R E T ROME 003739

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC KNNP IT UNDC UNGA
SUBJECT: PSI: ITALY SETS INTERAGENCY REVIEW MEETING

REF: STATE 231890

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS FOR REA
SONS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (C) THE MFA WILL CHAIR AN INTERAGENCY MEETING AT THE END
OF AUGUST TO REVIEW THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE
GENERALLY AND REFTEL DRAFT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES IN
PARTICULAR, ACCORDING TO FILIPPO FORMICA, DIRECTOR OF THE MFA
DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL OFFICE.


2. (S) FORMICA COMMENTED THAT THE CURRENT STATEMENT OF
PRINCIPLES APPEARS MORE TARGETED AND STREAMLINED THAN THE
LAST VERSION. HE AGREED THAT THERE IS VALUE IN MAKING THE
INTERDICTION PRINCIPLES PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE
INITIATIVE IS RECEIVING PRESS COVERAGE. ITALY SUPPORTS
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE FUTURE TO ENCOURAGE STRATEGIC
COUNTRIES TO COOPERATE, HE SAID. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE
NECESSARY TO COORDINATE CAREFULLY WHICH COUNTRIES TO INCLUDE,
HOW, AND FOR WHAT ACTIVITIES.


3. (C) FORMICA NOTED THAT A BILATERAL OR MULTILATERAL
AGREEMENT MAY BE NEEDED TO AUTHORIZE BOARDING OF ITALIAN
VESSELS BY OTHER COUNTRIES, AS PROPOSED IN 4.C OF THE
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. WHERE SOVEREIGNTY ISSUES ARE
INVOLVED, WE NEED TO STAY WITHIN EXISTING NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL LAW, HE SAID, ADDING THAT HE HAD SUBMITTED
COMMENTS TO THIS EFFECT AT THE BRISBANE MEETING. FORMICA
ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO USE AN ISSUE ON
THE UN FIRST COMMITTEE'S AGENDA TO BOLSTER THE PSI. HE
PROPOSED, AS AN EXAMPLE, INTEGRATING THE CONCEPT OF WMD
INTERDICTION INTO EXISTING INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION WHICH
CURRENTLY DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS WMD.


4. (C) FORMICA ENCOURAGED THE USG TO CONSIDER ADDING THE EU
AS A PSI PARTICIPANT. ITALY, IN ITS CAPACITY AS EU
PRESIDENT, PLANS TO DISCUSS THE PSI WITH OTHER EU MEMBERS AT
THE SEPTEMBER 4 EU CONOPS MEETING BECAUSE SOME ISSUES, SUCH
AS DUAL USE AND TRADE, FALL WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION, FORMICA SAID. MORE INFORMATION ON EUROPEAN
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THESE ISSUES COULD BE USEFUL IN
DEVELOPING THE PSI, HE SAID. THE EC ALREADY HAS SANCTIONED A
FEW MEMBER STATES FOR REACHING BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE
US ON CUSTOMS REGULATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE EC'S EXCLUSIVE
COMPETENCY, HE SAID. HE SUGGESTED INCLUDING IN THE ITALIAN
DELEGATION AN EC REPRESENTATIVE WHO COULD DISCUSS EC DUAL USE
AND TRADE REGULATIONS. FORMICA STRESSED THAT ITALY WILL
COORDINATE WITH THE USG ON HOW BEST TO ADDRESS EU AND EC
INTEGRATION.
SKODON

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2003ROME03739 - Classification: SECRET