Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME4101
2003-09-09 07:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY'S REACTION TO NEW UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Tags:  MARR MOPS PREL IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004101 

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR NEA
NSC FOR ROBERT BLACKWILL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2013
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY'S REACTION TO NEW UN SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION ON IRAQ

REF: STATE 256573

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASON 1.5 (B)
, (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004101

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR NEA
NSC FOR ROBERT BLACKWILL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2013
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY'S REACTION TO NEW UN SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION ON IRAQ

REF: STATE 256573

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASON 1.5 (B)
, (D)


1. (SBU) ITALY CURRENTLY HAS A CONTINGENT OF APPROXIMATELY
3,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ (UNDER BRITISH COMMAND IN IRAQ'S
SOUTHERN ZONE) TAKING PART IN OPERATION ANTICA BABILONIA,
WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION
ASSISTANCE. A NEW UN SECURITY RESOLUTION IS UNLIKELY TO
IMMEDIATELY AFFECT ITALY'S PARTICIPATION IN IRAQI
STABILIZATION EFFORTS, BUT IT COULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE
ITALIAN PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT
MANDATE, WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE ON 31 DECEMBER. FURTHERMORE,
AS HOLDER OF THE EU PRESIDENCY, ITALY WILL TRY TO ENSURE THAT
A NEW RESOLUTION DOES NOT CREATE THE DIVISIONS BETWEEN MEMBER
STATES THAT SEVERELY CRIPPLED THE EU DURING THE WEEKS LEADING
UP TO THE MILITARY INTERVENTION IN IRAQ.


2. (U) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI TOLD THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT ON 3 SEPTEMBER THAT THE EU FAVORS A BROADER UN
MANDATE TO GUIDE POSTWAR IRAQ AND THAT THE FIFTEEN HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESENT A COMMON POSITION. AT THE INFORMAL
MEETING OF EU FOREIGN MINISTERS OVER THE WEEKEND (SEPTEL),
FRATTINI SAID THAT MEMBER STATES WERE IN FAVOR OF A STRONG UN
ROLE AND UN MANDATE FOR THE MULTINATIONAL FORCES. MEMBER
STATES FURTHER AGREED THAT THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ MUST BECOME
"MASTERS OF THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT" AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND
CONTROL THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THEIR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURES. FRATTINI MADE THE SAME POINTS DURING
HIS MEETING WITH SECRETARY POWELL ON 4 SEPTEMBER IN
WASHINGTON.


3. (C) PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI'S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR,
GIANNI CASTELLANETA, TOLD VISITING AMBASSADOR BLACKWILL ON 4
SEPTEMBER THAT BERLUSCONI ENDORSED THE DRAFT SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION, SAYING THAT THE U.S. MUST REMAIN IN COMMAND IN
IRAQ. ASKED ON HOW BEST TO APPROACH FRANCE, CASTELLANETA
REPLIED THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED THE ISSUE A WEEK EARLIER WITH
HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART, AND PARIS IS READY TO ACCEPT U.S.
COMMAND OF A MULTINATIONAL FORCE, ESPECIALLY IF THE COMMAND
IS CENTERED IN NATO INSTEAD OF CENTCOM. CASTELLANETA
BELIEVED THIS APPROACH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, PERHAPS ALONG
THE AFGHAN MODEL OF SEPARATE MILITARY FORCES FOR COMBAT AND
PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.


4. (C) COMMENT. ITALY IS CONVINCED OF THE NEED TO PRESENT A
COMMON EU POSITION TO THE UN AND ALSO IS ANXIOUS TO AVOID THE
TRANSATLANTIC RIFTS CREATED BY DIFFERENCES OVER THE PREVIOUS
RESOLUTION. IN ITS ROLE AS EU PRESIDENT, ITALY WILL NEED TO
RECONCILE THE FRENCH INSISTENCE ON EMPHASIZING THE TRANSFER
OF POLITICAL CONTROL TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE WITH THE PERCEIVED
U.S. FOCUS ON SECURITY. THE ITALIANS, HOWEVER, FACE BETTER
ODDS FOR ACHIEVING EU UNITY THIS TIME AROUND; THE NEW
RESOLUTION, NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF MILITARY
INTERVENTION, IS LESS CONTROVERSIAL, AND MEMBER STATES,
HAVING ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE PAINS OF EU DISUNITY THE FIRST
TIME AROUND, PROBABLY WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO AVOID A REPEAT
BATTLE. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER



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2003ROME04101 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL