ITALIANS SURPRISED BY EXCLUSION FROM UN IRAQ GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 005418

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2013
TAGS: PREL EAID MOPS IZ IT UNSC UN
SUBJECT: ITALIANS SURPRISED BY EXCLUSION FROM UN IRAQ GROUP
OF FRIENDS

CLASSIFIED BY: DCM EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: THE MFA HAS EXPRESSED ITALY'S INDIGNATION AT
ITS EXCLUSION FROM THE RECENTLY CREATED UN IRAQ GROUP OF
FRIENDS AND REQUESTED US ASSISTANCE IN GETTING ITALY INCLUDED
IN THE GROUP. WE UNDERSTAND DEFENSE MINISTER MARTINO HAS MADE
THE SAME POINT TO SECRETARY RUMSFELD AND THAT FM FRATTINI
WILL DO THE SAME TO SECRETARY POWELL. WE HAVE ADVISED THE
ITALIANS TO APPROACH SYG ANNAN DIRECTLY. SHOULD THE SYG
SUPPLANT THE CURRENT SEVEN-PLUS-FIVE-PLUS-FIVE GROUP WITH A
LARGER "FRIENDS OF IRAQ", HOWEVER, WE RECOMMEND THE USG
SUPPORT INCLUSION OF ITALY, WHICH CAN BE COUNTED ON TO
SUPPORT OUR APPROACH IN IRAQ. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) LUCA FERRARI, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN, AND LUIGI MACCOTTA, MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR
THE MIDDLE EAST, BROUGHT UP THE RECENT CREATION OF THE UN
IRAQ GROUP OF FRIENDS CONSISTING OF THE P-5, NEIGHBORING
COUNTRIES, SELECTED UNSC MEMBERS AND OTHERS. THEY STATED THAT
THE GROUP WAS A POSITIVE INITIATIVE BUT WERE SURPRISED AND
OFFENDED THAT ITALY HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED. ITALY IS THE THIRD
LARGEST PRESENCE ON THE GROUND AND BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF ITALY HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE US-LED
EFFORT IN IRAQ. DUE TO THIS LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT AND ITS
COMMITMENT IN IRAQ, THEY FELT ITALY SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE
GROUP.


3. (C) POL M/C TOLD FERRARI THAT THE GROUP WAS CREATED BY
UNSYG ANNAN AND URGED ITALY TO APPROACH ANNAN DIRECTLY.
FERRARI SAID ITALY WOULD APPROACH ANNAN, BUT BELIEVES THAT
THE US WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THIS INITIATIVE AND
SURPRISED THAT WE HAD NOT ENSURED ITALY'S INCLUSION.


4. (C) COMMENT: WE HAVE HEARD SIMILAR PLEAS BEFORE FROM THE
ITALIANS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
TO IRAQ TO BE DULY AND PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED. THERE IS SOME
CREDENCE IN THE ARGUMENT THAT NOT DOING SO WILL MAKE IT
HARDER FOR THE GOI TO JUSTIFY ITS ROLE IN IRAQ TO THE ITALIAN
PUBLIC. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED
BY ITALY'S TENDENCY TO FEEL PUNCHED IN THE GUT WHENEVER IT'S
EXCLUDED FROM A GROUP THAT INCLUDES GERMANY. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THE SYG'S SEVEN-PLUS-FIVE-PLUS-FIVE GROUP MAY BE
SUPPLANTED BY A LARGER "FRIENDS OF IRAQ." SHOULD THAT HAPPEN,
WE URGE USG SUPPORT FOR INCLUSION OF THE ITALIANS, WHO COULD
BE COUNTED ON TO SUPPORT US PRIORITIES WITHIN THE GROUP. END
COMMENT.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME05418 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL