CD INITIATIVE IN EAST TIMOR: ITALY SEEKS MORE

UNCLAS ROME 001362 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL IT SUBJECT: CD INITIATIVE IN EAST TIMOR: ITALY SEEKS MORE SPECIFICS REF: STATE 073149 ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 4. ¶2. POST DISCUSSED REFTEL REQUEST FOR ITALIAN EXPERTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES (CD) INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY PROMOTION IN EAST TIMOR WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO MFA UNDER SECRETARY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MARGHERITA BONIVER AND WITH CONS. BRUNELLA BORZI, MFA POINT PERSON FOR THE CD. (BORZI REPORTS TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR MULTILATERAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, GIAMPIERO MASSOLO.) BOTH SAID ITALY HAS NOT YET DECIDED WHO TO SEND TO EAST TIMOR, BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSCORED ITALY'S STRONG INTEREST IN, AND U/S BONIVER'S PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO, PARTICIPATING. ¶3. BORZI SAID THE MFA HAD ASKED THE ITALIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO SEEK SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON DESIRED PARTICIPATION. SHE HAD FEW DETAILS ABOUT THE INITIATIVE AND WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED REFTEL, BUT STILL SUGGESTED THE MFA WOULD PREFER TO BE TOLD SPECIFICALLY WHAT KIND OF EXPERT TO SEND. POLOFF ENCOURAGED BORZI TO THINK ABOUT WHO MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, INTERESTED AND WILLING TO GO IN THE BROAD AREAS OF "DEMOCRACY-BUILDING" OR "GOOD GOVERNANCE" AND DREW HER ATTENTION TO THE ILLUSTRATIVE IDEAS IN PARA 4 OF REFTEL. ¶4. ACTION REQUEST: WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE ITALY TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT WHO IT CAN SEND TO EAST TIMOR. HOWEVER, IF SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPES OF EXPERTISE THAT WOULD BE MOST WELCOME TO THE EAST TIMORESE IS AVAILABLE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PASS IT TO THE GOI. IT MIGHT SPEED DECISION MAKING. VISIT ROME'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ROME/INDEX.CF M SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME01362 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED