PALESTINIAN UNGA RESOLUTION: ITALY DID ALL IT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001814

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2014
TAGS: KPAL IS IT PRELS UNGA
SUBJECT: PALESTINIAN UNGA RESOLUTION: ITALY DID ALL IT
COULD TO OPPOSE

REF: A. USUN 1061


B. ROME 1757

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


1. (C) MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN LUCA
FERRARI TOLD POL M/C ON MAY 6 THAT ITALY HAD DONE EVERYTHING
POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE OTHER EU MEMBERS TO OPPOSE THE
PALESTINIAN RESOLUTION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ACCORDING TO
FERRARI, THE ITALIAN UN PERMREP PUBLICLY DENOUNCED THE
RESOLUTION PRIOR TO THE VOTE, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY BERATED BY
OTHER EU MEMBERS IN NEW YORK FOR AIRING ITS VIEWS ON AN ISSUE
THAT WAS STILL UNDER DEBATE IN THE EU COMMITTEE. FERRARI WAS
UPSET THAT THE UK AND GERMAN REPRESENTATIVES REMAINED SILENT
WHILE THE OTHER MEMBERS "DUMPED ALL OVER" ITALY. GERMANY AND
THE UK, HE SAID, AGREED TO VOTE IN FAVOR AFTER THE UK
SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY IRELAND AND
ACCEPTED BY THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATION. IN THE END, AFTER
DELAYING A GA VOTE TO SEEK FM FRATTINI'S APPROVAL, ITALY
VOTED WITH THE EU IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, BUT ONLY
BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS LEFT IT WITH NO PRACTICAL EFFECTS ON
THE PALESTINIAN OBSERVER'S STATUS. FERRARI WAS ANXIOUS TO
LET THE USG KNOW THAT ITALY REMAINED OPPOSED TO THE
RESOLUTION FOR REASONS CITED IN REF B AND HAD TRIED ITS BEST
TO SUPPORT THE US POSITION.

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2004ROME01814 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL