TAREQ AZIZ'S VISIT TO ROME - PART I

UNCLAS ROME 000619

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IT IT IZ IZPREL IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TAREQ AZIZ'S VISIT TO ROME - PART I

REF: A. 2/13 A/DCM KILNER - ITALY DESK TEKACH-BALL TELCON


B. MILAN 89
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00619 150254Z

C. ROME 559


1. (SBU) FM FRATTINI WILL CALL THE SECRETARY EARLY AFTERNOON
EDT FEB. 14 TO DEBRIEF THE SECRETARY ON FRATTINI'S MEETING
WITH TAREQ AZIZ IN ROME FEB. 14 (REF A). THE FOLLOWING IS A
SUMMARY OF AZIZ'S TRIP/STATEMENTS IN ROME SO FAR.

--------------
AZIZ STATEMENTS
--------------


2. (U) EMBASSY SEES NOTHING NEW OR INNOVATIVE IN AZIZ'S
STATEMENTS SO FAR. HIS RECURRENT THEMES:
-- "WE (IRAQIS) ARE COOPERATING WITH THE UNMOVIC AND IAEA
INSPECTORS, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST."
-- IRAQ'S MISSILES ARE "WITHIN THE RANGE LIMITS THAT WERE
DECIDED BY THE UN. OUR (IRAQ'S) MISSILES ARE NOT DANGEROUS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT IRAQ'S MISSILES HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE
AND DO NOT HAVE A GUIDING SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY THEY LAND 5 OR
10 KILOMETERS FROM THE TARGET AND THEY ARE THEREFORE NOT VERY
DANGEROUS."
-- "ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN PEACE AND IN JUSTICE, ALL THOSE
WHO BELIEVE IN GOD, CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS, ARE AGAINST THIS
AGGRESSION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PREVENT IT."

--------------
GOI OFFICIALS
--------------


3. (U) PM BERLUSCONI'S COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED AZIZ
ONLY TWO MEETINGS SO FAR: ONE WITH THE LOMBARDY REGIONAL
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00619 150254Z
PRESIDENT FORMIGONI (REF B) FEB. 13 AND THE OTHER WITH FM
FRATTINI (REFS A AND C) FEB. 14. IN A PRESS CONFERENCE
FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH FORMIGONI, AZIZ SAID:"IF WE GIVE
THE INSPECTORS MORE TIME, THE TRUTH WILL BE EVIDENT, BECAUSE
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION,
SINCE THEY DON'T EXIST. THEIR (THE AMERICANS) REAL INTENT
HAS A NAME: IT IS OIL AND DOMINATION."
IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS MEETING WITH AZIZ,
FORMIGONI SAID:
-- "THE INSPECTORS MUST BE ASKED TO GIVE CLEAR ANSWERS, BUT
THEY MUST ALSO BE GIVEN TIME TO GET CLEAR ANSWERS."
-- TAREQ AZIZ "DID NOT COME EMPTY-HANDED. HE CAME WITH
PROPOSALS AND HYPOTHESES, WHICH I CANNOT TALK ABOUT, FOR
FAIRNESS' SAKE. BUT I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT THE
SITUATION IS IN MOTION."
-- FORMIGONI NOTED AN "AVAILABILITY ON THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S
PART TO COOPERATE WITH THE UN INSPECTORS. "I THINK GIVING
THE INSPECTORS TIME TO WORK IS RIGHT AND PROPER. THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT'S AVAILABILITY IS IMPORTANT, IN ORDER TO GET FROM
THE INSPECTORS ALL THE NECESSARY CLARITY THAT WE ASK OF
THEM," SAID FORMIGONI.


4. (SBU) EMBASSY FINDS IT SIGNIFICANT THAT ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE,
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO FOR EU POLICIES, CONSIDERED VERY
CLOSE TO POPE JOHN PAUL II, REFUSED TO MEET WITH TAREQ AZIZ
THIS TIME. BUTTIGLIONE HAD MET WITH AZIZ SEVERAL TIMES IN
THE PAST. HE WAS INVITED BY AZIZ TO BAGHDAD IN AUGUST, BUT
DECLINED THE INVITATION. BUTTIGLIONE SAID HE WANTED THE GOI
TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON IRAQ.

--------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 00619 150254Z
THE OPPOSITION
--------------


5. (U) IN PRESS STATEMENTS AFTER HIS MEETING FEB. 13 WITH THE
OLIVE TREE (OPPOSITION) LEADERS, AZIZ SAID THAT "THE FACT
THAT THE US DOES NOT CONSIDER THE WORK OF THE UN INSPECTORS
TO BE IMPORTANT SHOWS THAT IT ONLY WANTS TO DOMINATE THAT
AREA OF THE WORLD AND IT WANTS TO CONTROL IRAQ'S OIL."

THE FOLLOWING IS AN INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF A STATEMENT BY
THE OLIVE TREE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES GROUP LEADERS AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THEIR MEETING WITH AZIZ:
"DURING THE MEETING, WE REITERATED THE OLIVE TREE'S POSITION
AGAINST WAR AND IN FAVOR OF MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FIND A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS. WE ALSO REITERATED THE NEED
THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS BE GUARANTEED IN
IRAQ, AS WELL AS THE BASIC RIGHTS FOR A MODERN DEMOCRACY,
COMPLIANCE WITH THE UN RESOLUTIONS, AND THE RECOGNITION OF
ALL THE NECESSARY WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE UN INSPECTORS.
THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE IRAQI
POLITICAL SYSTEM TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY CREDIBILITY AND TO
MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID WAR."
SEMBLER

UNCLASSIFIED

>
@@@OASYS@@@

UNCLASSIFIED PTO0991

PAGE 01 ROME 00619 141622Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 UTED-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 SVC-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DRL-01 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
-------------- 3664A2 141622Z /03
O 141422Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8272
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY
AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY
AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY

UNCLAS ROME 000619

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IT IT IZ IZPREL IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: TAREQ AZIZ'S VISIT TO ROME - PART I

REF: A. 2/13 A/DCM KILNER - ITALY DESK TEKACH-BALL TELCON

B. MILAN 89

C. ROME 559


1. (SBU) FM FRATTINI WILL CALL THE SECRETARY EARLY AFTERNOON
EDT FEB. 14 TO DEBRIEF THE SECRETARY ON FRATTINI'S MEETING
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00619 141622Z
WITH TAREQ AZIZ IN ROME FEB. 14 (REF A). THE FOLLOWING IS A
SUMMARY OF AZIZ'S TRIP/STATEMENTS IN ROME SO FAR.

--------------
AZIZ STATEMENTS
--------------


2. (U) EMBASSY SEES NOTHING NEW OR INNOVATIVE IN AZIZ'S
STATEMENTS SO FAR. HIS RECURRENT THEMES:
-- "WE (IRAQIS) ARE COOPERATING WITH THE UNMOVIC AND IAEA
INSPECTORS, WE ARE DOING OUR BEST."
-- IRAQ'S MISSILES ARE "WITHIN THE RANGE LIMITS THAT WERE
DECIDED BY THE UN. OUR (IRAQ'S) MISSILES ARE NOT DANGEROUS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT IRAQ'S MISSILES HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE
AND DO NOT HAVE A GUIDING SYSTEM. THIS IS WHY THEY LAND 5 OR
10 KILOMETERS FROM THE TARGET AND THEY ARE THEREFORE NOT VERY
DANGEROUS."
-- "ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN PEACE AND IN JUSTICE, ALL THOSE
WHO BELIEVE IN GOD, CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS, ARE AGAINST THIS
AGGRESSION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PREVENT IT."

--------------
GOI OFFICIALS
--------------


3. (U) PM BERLUSCONI'S COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED AZIZ
ONLY TWO MEETINGS SO FAR: ONE WITH THE LOMBARDY REGIONAL
PRESIDENT FORMIGONI (REF B) FEB. 13 AND THE OTHER WITH FM
FRATTINI (REFS A AND C) FEB. 14. IN A PRESS CONFERENCE
FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH FORMIGONI, AZIZ SAID:"IF WE GIVE
THE INSPECTORS MORE TIME, THE TRUTH WILL BE EVIDENT, BECAUSE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00619 141622Z
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION,
SINCE THEY DON'T EXIST. THEIR (THE AMERICANS) REAL INTENT
HAS A NAME: IT IS OIL AND DOMINATION."
IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER HIS MEETING WITH AZIZ,
FORMIGONI SAID:
-- "THE INSPECTORS MUST BE ASKED TO GIVE CLEAR ANSWERS, BUT
THEY MUST ALSO BE GIVEN TIME TO GET CLEAR ANSWERS."
-- TAREQ AZIZ "DID NOT COME EMPTY-HANDED. HE CAME WITH
PROPOSALS AND HYPOTHESES, WHICH I CANNOT TALK ABOUT, FOR
FAIRNESS' SAKE. BUT I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT THE
SITUATION IS IN MOTION."
-- FORMIGONI NOTED AN "AVAILABILITY ON THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S
PART TO COOPERATE WITH THE UN INSPECTORS. "I THINK GIVING
THE INSPECTORS TIME TO WORK IS RIGHT AND PROPER. THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT'S AVAILABILITY IS IMPORTANT, IN ORDER TO GET FROM
THE INSPECTORS ALL THE NECESSARY CLARITY THAT WE ASK OF
THEM," SAID FORMIGONI.


4. (SBU) EMBASSY FINDS IT SIGNIFICANT THAT ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE,
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO FOR EU POLICIES, CONSIDERED VERY
CLOSE TO POPE JOHN PAUL II, REFUSED TO MEET WITH TAREQ AZIZ
THIS TIME. BUTTIGLIONE HAD MET WITH AZIZ SEVERAL TIMES IN
THE PAST. HE WAS INVITED BY AZIZ TO BAGHDAD IN AUGUST, BUT
DECLINED THE INVITATION. BUTTIGLIONE SAID HE WANTED THE GOI
TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE ON IRAQ.

--------------
THE OPPOSITION
--------------


5. (U) IN PRESS STATEMENTS AFTER HIS MEETING FEB. 13 WITH THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 00619 141622Z
OLIVE TREE (OPPOSITION) LEADERS, AZIZ SAID THAT "THE FACT
THAT THE US DOES NOT CONSIDER THE WORK OF THE UN INSPECTORS
TO BE IMPORTANT SHOWS THAT IT ONLY WANTS TO DOMINATE THAT
AREA OF THE WORLD AND IT WANTS TO CONTROL IRAQ'S OIL."

THE FOLLOWING IS AN INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF A STATEMENT BY
THE OLIVE TREE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES GROUP LEADERS AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THEIR MEETING WITH AZIZ:
"DURING THE MEETING, WE REITERATED THE OLIVE TREE'S POSITION
AGAINST WAR AND IN FAVOR OF MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FIND A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS. WE ALSO REITERATED THE NEED
THAT HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS BE GUARANTEED IN
IRAQ, AS WELL AS THE BASIC RIGHTS FOR A MODERN DEMOCRACY,
COMPLIANCE WITH THE UN RESOLUTIONS, AND THE RECOGNITION OF
ALL THE NECESSARY WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE UN INSPECTORS.
THESE ARE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS TO ALLOW FOR THE IRAQI
POLITICAL SYSTEM TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY CREDIBILITY AND TO
MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO AVOID WAR."
SEMBLER

SVC FOR SENSITIVE CAPTION

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2003ROME00619 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED