Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME1649
2004-04-27 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  ETRD PINR PREL IT KPRP 
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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)

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

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2004ROME01649 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL