WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY

UNCLAS ROME 005416 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL ETTC KSTC PARM IT EUN SUBJECT: WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI FOR EUR/WE AND NP/ECNP REF: A) BURKHEAD/REDDY TELECON B) USMISSION UNVIE/ROBBINS TELECON C) STATE 325046 ¶1. (SBU) ECONOMIC COUNSELOR CALLED ON MFA NONPROLIFERATION COORDINATOR AMBASSADOR UGO DE MOHR NOVEMBER 26 TO DELIVER REF C MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FOREIGN MINISTER FRATINI. SHE EXPLAINED TO DE MOHR THAT THE SECRETARY WAS PROPOSING A JOINT LETTER WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER TO ALL WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT PARTICIPANTS TRANSMITTING A STATEMENT REAFFIRMING MEMBER STATES' COMMITMENT TO THE ARRANGEMENT AT THE PLENARY MEETING DECEMBER 10-12. ¶2. (SBU) DE MOHR SAID THAT THE U.S. MISSION IN VIENNA HAD ALREADY APPROACHED ITALY'S CHIEF OF MISSION IN VIENNA WHO, IN TURN, HAD DISCUSSED THE IDEA WITH DE MOHR. THE TWO HAD AGREED THE LETTER WAS A GOOD IDEA. DE MOHR PROMISED TO SPEAK WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER EARLY THAT EVENING; BUT BECAUSE OF HIS TRAVEL PLANS, DE MOHR COULD NOT REPORT BACK TO EMBOFF UNTIL DECEMBER 1. ¶3. (SBU) ON DECEMBER 1, DE MOHR REPORTED THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER COULD AGREE TO THE STATEMENT AS DRAFTED REF C. FURTHER, HE (DE MOHR) WAS THEN TRANSMITTING INSTRUCTIONS TO ITALY'S EMBASSIES IN WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT CAPITALS INSTRUCTING ITALIAN EMBASSIES TO APPROACH SENIOR LEVELS IN HOST GOVERNMENT CAPITALS TO REPORT THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY WOULD TABLE REF C STATEMENT IN THE DECEMBER 10-12 PLENARY MEETING AND TO ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THAT STATEMENT. SEMBLER NNNN 2003ROME05416 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED