Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME490
2003-02-06 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY/MEPP: A READ OUT OF THE EU JANUARY COMEP

Tags:  EU IT PREL EUN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

061532Z Feb 03
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000490 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: EU IT PREL EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY/MEPP: A READ OUT OF THE EU JANUARY COMEP
MEETING

REF: SECSTATE 04154

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000490

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: EU IT PREL EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY/MEPP: A READ OUT OF THE EU JANUARY COMEP
MEETING

REF: SECSTATE 04154

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5
(B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: DURING THE JANUARY MEETING OF THE EU
COMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS (COMEP) IN
BRUSSELS, THE WORKING GROUPS DISCUSSED THE QUARTET'S ROADMAP
AND FUTURE MONITORING MECHANISM, AND THE GREEK PRESIDENCY
DISTRIBUTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL EU STATES OUR NON-PAPER ON THE
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN
DAMASCUS (REFTEL.) END SUMMARY.

--------------
ROADMAP: MIXED FEELINGS
--------------


2. (C) NEA WATCHER MET LUCA FRATINI, THE MFA'S DEPUTY OFFICER
DIRECTOR FOR THE ARAB MED COUNTRIES TO GET A READ-OUT OF THE
EU COMEP JANUARY MEETING IN BRUSSELS. FRATINI, WHO ATTENDED
THE MEETING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOI, SAID THAT THE
EUROPEANS EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE ROADMAP WAS
NOT PUBLISHED ON DEC. 20. NONETHELESS, THE MERE FACT THAT
THE QUARTET MEETING TOOK PLACE ON DEC. 20 WAS PERCEIVED AS A
SUCCESS AND SO WAS THE PERSONAL SUPPORT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH
IS GIVING THE QUARTET AND THE ROADMAP DESPITE HIS
PREOCCUPATIONS WITH IRAQ, SAID FRATINI.

--------------
MONITORING MECHANISM
--------------


3. (C) AT THE COMEP MEETING, FRATINI EXPRESSED HIS
GOVERNMENT'S WISH TO SEE A SMALL AND EFFICIENT MONITORING
MECHANISM WITH A COORDINATION COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF EACH OF
THE FOUR QUARTET MEMBERS PLUS A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH OF THE
FOUR SPECIALIZED GROUPS (POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SECURITY, AND
PALESTINIAN REFORM.) FRATINI NOTED THAT THE CURRENT STAFFING
PATTERN OF THE SPECIALIZED GROUPS IS UNSATISFACTORY. THE
COMEP AGREED TO ADDRESS IN FUTURE MEETINGS INCREASING THE
LEVEL OF EU CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPECIALIZED GROUPS.

--------------
PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN DAMASCUS
--------------


4. (C) THE GREEK PRESIDENCY CIRCULATED OUR NON-PAPER ON THE
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF PALESTINIAN REJECTIONIST GROUPS IN
DAMASCUS (REFTEL.) AMB. ANTONIO BADINI, THE MFA'S DG FOR
MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS, WILL RAISE REFTEL CONCERNS WITH
SYRIAN FM AL-SHARAA DURING HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO SYRIA FEB
8-11, SAID FRATINI.
SEMBLER


2003ROME00490 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL