UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE IRAN RESOLUTION: NO ITALIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005201

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR DRL, EUR/WE AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2013
TAGS: PHUM PREL IR IT UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA 3RD COMMITTEE IRAN RESOLUTION: NO ITALIAN
CO-SPONSORSHIP, VOTE DECISION PENDING

REF: A) STATE 316541 B)STATE 318063

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) ITALY WILL NOT CO-SPONSOR CANADA'S 3RD COMMITTEE
RESOLUTION ON IRAN, DEPUTY POLDIR CLAUDIO BISOGNIERO TOLD POL
M/C NOVEMBER 14. BISOGNIERO'S RESPONSE CONFIRMED MFA HUMAN
RIGHTS COORDINATOR ALESSANDRO FALLAVOLLITA'S LATE OCTOBER
ASSESSMENT THAT EU MEMBER-STATES HAD REACHED CONSENSUS TO
SUPPORT AN IRAN RESOLUTION IF ONE WAS TABLED, BUT NOT TO
CO-SPONSOR ONE.


2. (C) BISOGNIERO ALSO INDICATED THE ITALIAN MFA WAS UNHAPPY
WITH THE LENGTH AND DEGREE OF DETAIL IN THE CANADIAN DRAFT;
AS EU PRESIDENT, IT HAD PROVIDED CANADA WITH NUMEROUS
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DRAFT AGREED BY FELLOW MEMBER-STATES.
ITALY WOULD WAIT UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO A VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION, PROBABLY THE DAY BEFORE, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE
DRAFT WAS SUFFICIENTLY IMPROVED TO MERIT ITS VOTE IN FAVOR.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPUTY OFFICE DIRECTOR CAMPANILE TOLD US
NOVEMBER 17 THE EU'S PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CANADIAN
DRAFT ALREADY HAD BEEN TRANSMITTED TO THE ITALIAN MISSION IN
NY.


3. (C) COMMENT: THE ITALIANS SHARE OUR CONCERNS OVER IRAN'S
POOR RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS BUT REMAIN WEDDED TO THE EU'S
POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT. FALLOVOLLITA HAS ARGUED TO US THAT THE
EU'S HR DIALOGUE WAS BEGINNING TO PRODUCE RESULTS, CITING
TEHRAN'S PROFESSED WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER TERMINATING THE
USE OF JUVENILE EXECUTIONS AND STRIKING THE RELIGION CLAUSE
FROM ITS UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION LEGISLATION. REFLECTING THE
EU'S COMMITMENT TO THIS DIALOGUE, THE ITALIANS ARE TRYING TO
STRIKE THE FINE BALANCE BETWEEN CRITICIZING CREDIBLY THE
IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND MAINTAINING INCENTIVES FOR IT TO
CONTINUE THE DIALGUE WITH THE EU. TO BE EFFECTIVE, ANY
FURTHER DEMARCHES ON THIS RESOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE MORE
SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS OF THE EU'S
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN NY.
SKODON

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2003ROME05201 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL