ITALY ON US PROPOSALS FOR STRENGTHENING THE IAEA:

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002217 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2014 TAGS: KNNP TRGY MNUC IT IAEA SUBJECT: ITALY ON US PROPOSALS FOR STRENGTHENING THE IAEA: TWO OUT OF THREE AREN'T BAD REF: STATE 125606 CLASSIFIED BY: POL M/C TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL PAPER TO MFA OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR ARMS CONTROL GIOVANNI IANNUZZI ON JUNE 9. ITALY FULLY AGREES WITH THE PROPOSALS REGARDING THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL, WHICH IT CONSIDERS A "PILLAR" OF THE IAEA. ITALY CAN SPEAK MORE SERENELY NOW THAT IT HAS FINISHED ITS OWN IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS, AND IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT STATES LIKE BRAZIL THAT ARE DEVELOPING "INNOVATIVE" NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES. IANNUZZI SAID ITALY CONSIDERS THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SAFEGUARDS TO BE FEASIBLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE IAEA STATUTE FORESEES SUCH A COMMITTEE. ITALY THEREFORE SUPPORTS THIS PROPOSAL. ¶2. (C) REGARDING THE FINAL PROPOSAL, TO BAR STATES UNDER INVESTIGATION FROM SERVING ON THE BOG OR SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SAFEGUARDS, ITALY IS "NOT ENTHUSIASTIC." IANNUZZI SAID HE DOUBTED THAT THIS WOULD ACHIEVE THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND RISKS CREATING PROBLEMS WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY REAL BENEFITS. NOTHING WOULD BE DIFFERENT NOW, HE SAID, HAD IRAN NOT LEFT THE BOG IN SEPTEMBER. VISIT ROME'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE: HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/EUR/ROME/INDEX.CF M SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME02217 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL