ITALY SEEKS USG CERTIFICATION FOR M113 TRANSFER TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000906

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2013
TAGS: MCAP PREL IT NATO
SUBJECT: ITALY SEEKS USG CERTIFICATION FOR M113 TRANSFER TO
MACEDONIA

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN
FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. SEE PARA 4.


2. (C) THE ITALIAN MOD HAS PREPARED A "NON-PAPER" JUSTIFYING
ITALY'S TRANSFER TO MACEDONIA OF AN ADDITIONAL 30 MILITARY
TRANSPORT VEHICLES (M113) WHICH REQUIRES AN END USER
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CERTIFICATE FROM THE USG. THE TRANSFER IS THE SECOND
INSTALLMENT UNDER A FOUR-YEAR OLD ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN ITALY
AND THE FYROM PURSUANT TO WHICH ITALY TRANSFERRED 30 M113S IN
1998 WITH USG CONSENT. ACCORDING TO DEFMIN DIPLOMATIC
ADVISOR FRANCESCO TRUPIANO, MACEDONIAN MILITARY OFFICIALS
CONTINUE TO PRESS THE GOI TO RELEASE THE REMAINING VEHICLES.
TRUPIANO HAS ASKED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE USG
IS WITHHOLDING CERTIFICATION FOR THE SECOND M113 TRANSFER.
AFTER POLMIN COUNSELOR EXPLAINED USG CONCERNS ABOUT THE
FYROM'S NONSYSTEMATIC MILITARY ACQUISITIONS, HE AND TRUPIANO
AGREED TECHNICAL LEVEL DISCUSSIONS WITH USG AND GOI OFFICIALS
WOULD BE USEFUL TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE TRANSFER IS
CONSISTENT WITH MACEDONIA'S NEEDS AND ITS NATO MEMBERSHIP
ACTION PLAN.


3. (C) THE "NON-PAPER" (PROVIDED TO DESK AND EMBASSY SKOPJE
SEPARATELY) EXPLAINS THAT THE M113S MEET A FYROM NEED FOR
MILITARY TRANSPORT VEHICLES, AS RECOGNIZED BY THE PFP REVIEW
PROCESS. THE PAPER JUSTIFIES THE TRANSFER AS ASSISTING
FYROM'S EFFORTS TO REINFORCE ITS BORDER CONTROL CAPABILITY,
AS REQUIRED BY NATO DURING THE JANUARY FYROM MAP TALKS. THE
"NON-PAPER' FURTHER STATES THAT, BECAUSE THE FYROM HAS
ASSIGNED THE M113S TO THE ITALIAN SASSARI SEEBRIG BATTALION,
THE TRANSFER WILL ENHANCE INTEROPERABILITY. IN ADDITION,
PARTS FROM THE M113S ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THE REQUIRED NUMBER
OF VEHICLES IN OPERATION, ACCORDING TO THE "NON-PAPER".


4. (U) ACTION REQUEST. POST HAS USED ARGUMENTS PROVIDED BY
EMBASSY SKOPJE IN E-MAIL COMMUNICATIONS (FOR WHICH WE ARE
MOST GRATEFUL) TO ARGUE TO ITALIAN MOD THAT THE TRANSFER IS
NOT CONSISTENT WITH MACEDONIA'S MAP. HOWEVER, OUR
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UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE MAP AND WITH THE MACEDONIAN MILITARY
STRUCTURE LEAVES US SHORT OF TOOLS TO CONVINCE THE GOI OF THE
NON-UTILITY OF THIS TRANSFER, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE MOD
ARGUES THAT IT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO STANDING UP AN IMPORTANT
SEEBRIG CAPABILITY, A GOAL WE ALL SHARE. WE THEREFORE
REQUEST EITHER:
-- A WRITTEN RESPONSE, CLEARED BY STATE, DOD AND EMBASSY
SKOPJE, TO THE MOD'S NON-PAPER,
-- OR, PREFERABLY, AN APPROPRIATE EXPERT FROM EMBASSY SKOPJE
(AND, IF APPROPRIATE, USNATO) TO COME TO ROME FOR INFORMAL
MEETINGS WITH ITALIAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS.
END REQUEST.
SEMBLER

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2003ROME00906 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL