C-RE4-00182: G8 SUMMIT AGENDA ISSUES - ITALIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001649 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E FOR ANNE PENCE; ALSO FOR EB/PAPD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2008 TAGS: ETRD PINR PREL IT KPRP SUBJECT: C-RE4-00182: G8 SUMMIT AGENDA ISSUES - ITALIAN VIEWS REF: A. SECSTATE 68033 ¶B. ROME 00902 ¶C. ROME 00662 ¶D. US NATO 218 ¶E. ROME 00568 ¶F. ROME 00537 ¶G. 03 ROME 5664 ¶H. 03 ROME 3926 Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs Scott Kilner for reasons 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (U) The Political, Economic, Consular and Science sections have provided the following responses to ref a request for Italian views on G8 Summit Agenda proposals. GREATER MIDDLE EAST INITIATIVE (GME) -------------- ¶2. (C) The Italians have been very supportive of the GME initiative (ref c),helping to promote it in their dialogue with Arab counterparts (ref b). Their attitude toward the NATO portion of the initiative (Istanbul Cooperation Initiative - ICI),while generally also supportive, is tempered by concerns that it would come at the expense of NATO,s Mediterranean Dialogue, which they would like to see strengthened. In FM Frattini's March 3 address to the NAC (ref d),he endorsed the U.S. view that the ICI and GME initiatives are complementary in their goals of promoting freedom and prosperity in the Muslim World. ¶3. (C) The Italians have also been supportive of the Global Peace Operation Initiative and the portion relating to constabulary training, where it would like to play a leading role. The Italian Government has contributed good ideas to both initiatives, including a joint U.S.-Italy non-paper on G8 action to support peace operations, and has offered to host a training facility in Turin or at the carabinieri Center of Excellence in Vicenza. Resources remain a concern, as does as how the initiative fits in with similar discussions in the UN and EU. NONPROLIFERATION -------------- ¶4. (U) Post has not received specific information about U.S. proposed initiatives on non-proliferation, so we can not make any specific comments. For Italian views on non-proliferation issues writ large, see refs g and h. COUNTER-TERRORISM COOPERATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) We do not believe the Italian Government has reservations about adopting U.S.-made technology. But given potential competition from domestic provides, we are not optimistic that U.S.-technology will be purchased. The Italian Government is concerned about privacy laws regarding interoperability of smart cards and smart chip passports, and has particular concerns about the information that could made available to other persons/governments. Italy has a prototype machine-readable, biometric passport with a microchip containing two forms of biometric identifiers (facial image and digital fingerprints); it was formally launched December 11, 2003. The passports will incorporate a chip consistent with the parameters estimated by Directive ISO 14443 and with the standards recommended by ICAO. Currently, the prototype does not have sufficient memory to meet ICAO standards, but it will be the time it goes into general production and circulation sometime in 2005. ¶6. (U) Italian officials, under Italy's privacy laws, do not have the legal authority to adopt a biometric passport. The Ministry of Justice and the Privacy Authority (Italy's regulatory agency on privacy issues) are preparing the text of a law that will permit the introduction of new passports with biometric identifiers. ¶7. (SBU) Italy is trying to improve capacity building and collaboration with non-G8 countries in the counter-terrorism field. During Italy's six-month EU Presidency, the GOI, in conjunction with the European Commission, invited officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to share with EU member states and invited governments - including the U.S. - information about how GCC governments track suspect money. Italy is interested in working further with the Gulf states on alternative remittance systems, including cash couriers. Italian officials also have worked to enhance border control and counter-terrorism skills of officials in the Balkans, especially Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo. TRADE PROMOTION AND THE WTO -------------- ¶8. (U) Italian views are laid out in ref e. PROMOTING PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH FOR DEVELOPMENT -------------- -- ¶9. (U) Italy's overall approach to aid emphasizes private sector development and capacity building with a particular focus on the delivery of healthcare services. The Middle East and Africa remain priority regions. Italian officials in conversations with us have not commented on U.S. plans to promote growth in developing countries through index bonds, facilitating global remittances, or supporting small business development. OTHER SUMMIT ISSUES: AFRICA, HIV-AIDS, DEBT FORGIVENESS -------------- -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Italy has a long-standing interest, largely due to historical ties, in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Italy is involved in the peace processes there and wishes to have influence in the region. Stretched financially, politically and militarily as Italy is, however, there may be less of an effort at an overall governmental level and more interest from specific offices and individual officials in the Prime Minister's office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in these issues. Depending on USG policy for a particular country/region in Africa, the Italians could serve as influential and cooperative partners. ¶11. (U) Debt forgiveness has significant support among Italian citizens and political leaders. Italian officials have focused primarily on debt forgiveness as the instrument for growth, or at least, a means to improve the credit-worthiness of developing countries. Italy's assistance budget is perennially under-funded, and most assistance funding has been targeted for multilateral programs. Debt forgiveness is seen as a way, politically as well as economically, to make up for some of this funding shortfall. ¶12. (SBU) The Italians will likely react positively to G-8 summit ideas on HIV/AIDS, while looking carefully at resource needs. The GOI has supported U.S. initiatives on HIV/AIDS to date. Moreover, the Italian Ministry of Health considers HIV/AIDS a major focus of bilateral research efforts with the U.S., as well as a key target of Italian cooperation programs in developing countries in Africa. Health Minister Sirchia recently wrote to the Embassy about the President's HIV-AIDS initiative. He wrote, "I was pleased to see the recent information regarding the initiative approved recently by the U.S. Congress, regarding President Bush's new Strategic Plan for fighting AIDS. I also noted with great pleasure the financing entity for the implementation of the Plan, which will be added to the funding of the Global Fund, an initiative in which our country is strongly involved at the side of the United States." Visit Rome's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME01649 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL