ITALY OPPOSES CUBA RESOLUTION ON GUANTANAMO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001546

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM CU IT UNHRC
SUBJECT: ITALY OPPOSES CUBA RESOLUTION ON GUANTANAMO

REF: SECSTATE 085231

CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) MFA DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN
RIGHTS, CLAUDIO BISOGNIERO AND MFA HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE
DIRECTOR, CARLO CAMPANILE TOLD POL M/C THAT ITALY STRONGLY
AGREES WITH REFTEL POINTS AND QUESTIONS CUBA'S CREDENTIALS
AND MOTIVATION. MFA OFFICIALS STATED THAT ITALY WILL OPPOSE
THE CUBAN RESOLUTION ON GUANTANAMO BECAUSE IT IS HYPOCRITICAL
OF CUBA TO TABLE A RESOLUTION BASED ON CONVENTIONS TO WHICH
THEY ARE NOT A SIGNATORY PARTY AND BECAUSE THE UNHCR IS NOT
THE APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR SUCH A RESOLUTION.


2. (C) BISOGNIERO STATED THAT AMONG EU COUNTRIES ITALY IS
CLOSEST TO THE UK POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT THERE IS
NO SUPPORT FOR THE RESOLUTION AMONG OTHER EU STATES. HE
STATED THAT ITALY WILL WORK TO INFLUENCE THE COMMON EU
POSITION AND HOPES TO ALSO ESTABLISH A COMMON WEOG POSITION.
THE MAIN CHALLENGE HE FORESEES IS TO MANAGE PUBLIC OPINION,
WHICH HAS A NEGATIVE VIEW OF USG PRACTICES AT GUANTANAMO.
EXPLAINING THE TECHNICAL REASONS FOR OPPOSING THE CUBAN
POSITION AND THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF USING THE UNHCR FOR
SUCH A RESOLUTION WILL BE COMPLICATED.

VISIT ROME'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE:
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ROME/INDEX.CF M

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2004ROME01546 - Classification: CONFIDENTI