Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME4021
2003-09-04 17:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY'S EU PRESIDENCY - ON BOARD WITH MOST USG
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004021
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR IT EUN ESDP
SUBJECT: ITALY'S EU PRESIDENCY - ON BOARD WITH MOST USG
VIEWS FOR GYMNICH
REF: A) STATE 250490 B) ROME 3976 C) ROME 4001 D)
STATE 223920
Classified By: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.5 (B)(
D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004021
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR IT EUN ESDP
SUBJECT: ITALY'S EU PRESIDENCY - ON BOARD WITH MOST USG
VIEWS FOR GYMNICH
REF: A) STATE 250490 B) ROME 3976 C) ROME 4001 D)
STATE 223920
Classified By: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.5 (B)(
D).
1. (C) Poloff discussed all points ref a with MFA European
Correspondent Sandro DeBernadin on September 1. He promised
to take them under consideration as he continued to draft
Foreign Minister Frattini's briefing papers for the Gymnich,
in consultation with appropriate bureaus within the MFA. His
initial reaction was that there were no points within the
demarche at odds with Italy's overall goals for the Gymnich.
--------------
European Security Strategy (ESS)
--------------
2. (C) Speaking in his other role as Italy's ESDP policy
coordinator, DeBernadin said that the Italian Presidency
would continue to protect the NATO-EU relationship as defined
in the Berlin-plus agreement, and that continued
consultations among the US, NATO and EU would be critical to
the success and validity of the ESS. As reported ref b,
Italy is open to considering changes to current EU procedures
whereby CFSP/ESDP decisions are adopted by consensus only, as
long as those changes could be adopted in a manner that would
not jeopardize Berlin-plus. We also delivered the ESS points
to NATO office director Giovanni Brauzzi, who said that they
reflected Italy's views on the NATO-ESDP relationship, but
that the term "align" to reflect EU security policy
coordination with NATO's may be too strong to use in the
final document.
--------------
IRAQ
--------------
3. (C) Luigi Maccotta, Deputy Director of the MFA Iraq Task
Force, stressed that while there is sufficient political will
to engage constructively within the EU, there are many
unresolved questions such as: the role of a trust fund, how
current account and future budget gaps can be closed,
security, and the methodology of the needs assessments.
Maccotta believes that the sine qua non for making headway is
the passage of the third UNSC resolution. Maccotta noted
that there was broad agreement in the Brussels core group
meeting on September 3 that another core group face to face
meeting is necessary to hammer out some of the unresolved
issues. The meeting will take place the week of September 28
in Madrid.
--------------
Peace Process
--------------
4. (C) De Bernadin agreed that the US and EU must continue
to work together in the Quartet to contain the deteriorating
situation in the region and avoid a complete unraveling of
the small gains made in the MEPP thus far. He promised that
designation of HAMAS as a terrorist organization would be on
the Gymnich agenda and pushed by the Presidency, but was not
optimistic that Italy could convince France to join
consensus. FM Frattini and UK Foreign Secretary Straw
confirmed that assessment during their August 29 conversation
in Rome (septel).
--------------
IRAN
--------------
5. (C) As reported ref c, MFA Secretary General Baldocci told
the DCM on September 2 that Iranian noncompliance with the
NPT Safeguards Agreement is Italy's concern as well and that
he would advise Foreign Minister Frattini of the U.S. intent
to seek an IAEA noncompliance resolution at the Board of
Governors (BOG) meeting on 8 - 12 September. MFA Desk
Officer for Iran Ferrari Bravo also told poloff that Iran is
making progress in meeting its safeguard obligations and that
a resolution at this time would only complicate matters.
According to Ferrari Bravo, more "carrots" and less "sticks"
are needed to obtain Iranian compliance. She emphasized that
the Italians have pushed Teheran repeatedly to sign an IAEA
Additional Protocol.
--------------
New Neighbors
--------------
6. (SBU) Russia/NIS Office Director Marco Marsilli
appreciated receiving the ref a points on New Neighbors,
which he promised to incorporate into his input for the
Gymnich as well as his own preparations for the September 3-5
COEST meetings in Brussels. On September 2 the DCM also
reiterated with SYG Baldocci USG views (ref d) on the
Moldova/Transnistria conflict.
SEMBLER
NNNN
2003ROME04021 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2013
TAGS: PREL MARR IT EUN ESDP
SUBJECT: ITALY'S EU PRESIDENCY - ON BOARD WITH MOST USG
VIEWS FOR GYMNICH
REF: A) STATE 250490 B) ROME 3976 C) ROME 4001 D)
STATE 223920
Classified By: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.5 (B)(
D).
1. (C) Poloff discussed all points ref a with MFA European
Correspondent Sandro DeBernadin on September 1. He promised
to take them under consideration as he continued to draft
Foreign Minister Frattini's briefing papers for the Gymnich,
in consultation with appropriate bureaus within the MFA. His
initial reaction was that there were no points within the
demarche at odds with Italy's overall goals for the Gymnich.
--------------
European Security Strategy (ESS)
--------------
2. (C) Speaking in his other role as Italy's ESDP policy
coordinator, DeBernadin said that the Italian Presidency
would continue to protect the NATO-EU relationship as defined
in the Berlin-plus agreement, and that continued
consultations among the US, NATO and EU would be critical to
the success and validity of the ESS. As reported ref b,
Italy is open to considering changes to current EU procedures
whereby CFSP/ESDP decisions are adopted by consensus only, as
long as those changes could be adopted in a manner that would
not jeopardize Berlin-plus. We also delivered the ESS points
to NATO office director Giovanni Brauzzi, who said that they
reflected Italy's views on the NATO-ESDP relationship, but
that the term "align" to reflect EU security policy
coordination with NATO's may be too strong to use in the
final document.
--------------
IRAQ
--------------
3. (C) Luigi Maccotta, Deputy Director of the MFA Iraq Task
Force, stressed that while there is sufficient political will
to engage constructively within the EU, there are many
unresolved questions such as: the role of a trust fund, how
current account and future budget gaps can be closed,
security, and the methodology of the needs assessments.
Maccotta believes that the sine qua non for making headway is
the passage of the third UNSC resolution. Maccotta noted
that there was broad agreement in the Brussels core group
meeting on September 3 that another core group face to face
meeting is necessary to hammer out some of the unresolved
issues. The meeting will take place the week of September 28
in Madrid.
--------------
Peace Process
--------------
4. (C) De Bernadin agreed that the US and EU must continue
to work together in the Quartet to contain the deteriorating
situation in the region and avoid a complete unraveling of
the small gains made in the MEPP thus far. He promised that
designation of HAMAS as a terrorist organization would be on
the Gymnich agenda and pushed by the Presidency, but was not
optimistic that Italy could convince France to join
consensus. FM Frattini and UK Foreign Secretary Straw
confirmed that assessment during their August 29 conversation
in Rome (septel).
--------------
IRAN
--------------
5. (C) As reported ref c, MFA Secretary General Baldocci told
the DCM on September 2 that Iranian noncompliance with the
NPT Safeguards Agreement is Italy's concern as well and that
he would advise Foreign Minister Frattini of the U.S. intent
to seek an IAEA noncompliance resolution at the Board of
Governors (BOG) meeting on 8 - 12 September. MFA Desk
Officer for Iran Ferrari Bravo also told poloff that Iran is
making progress in meeting its safeguard obligations and that
a resolution at this time would only complicate matters.
According to Ferrari Bravo, more "carrots" and less "sticks"
are needed to obtain Iranian compliance. She emphasized that
the Italians have pushed Teheran repeatedly to sign an IAEA
Additional Protocol.
--------------
New Neighbors
--------------
6. (SBU) Russia/NIS Office Director Marco Marsilli
appreciated receiving the ref a points on New Neighbors,
which he promised to incorporate into his input for the
Gymnich as well as his own preparations for the September 3-5
COEST meetings in Brussels. On September 2 the DCM also
reiterated with SYG Baldocci USG views (ref d) on the
Moldova/Transnistria conflict.
SEMBLER
NNNN
2003ROME04021 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL