ITALY SUPPORTS US VIEWS ON GAERC AND COUNCIL AGENDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002309

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2014
TAGS: PREL IZ IR IT MEPP EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORTS US VIEWS ON GAERC AND COUNCIL AGENDA

REF: A) STATE 125932 B) VIENNA 510 C) BRUSSELS 2456

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR GARY ROBBINS.
REASON:1.4 (B) (D)


1. (C) Summary: MFA officials briefed poloffs on positions
Italy will take during GAERC and Council meetings during the
week of June 14. European Neighborhood Policy debate will
continue at both GAERC and Council meetings. The unanimous
UNSC approval of the new Iraq resolution has prepared the
ground for ministers and heads of government to have
productive discussions on the way forward, and Italy supports
the EU's targets for political and economic stability in its
medium-term Iraq strategy; the Council will also highlight
the UN's central role. Italy generally prefers an open
dialogue with Iran on nuclear and other issues. Italy wants
the US, as leader of the Quartet, to move the Road Map
forward, but collaborate with its partners before presenting
any initiatives. Sudan discussions will focus on ensuring
that the UN system delivers aid to Darfur using a coordinated
approach, making clear to the Sudanese government that it
must comply fully with its commitments rather than continuing
with piecemeal concessions. END SUMMARY

European Neighborhood Policy (ENP)
--------------

2. (C) MFA EU Institutional Affairs Director Michele Quarone
told Poloff on June 10 that the ENP strategy paper had been
officially presented to Member States and that debate
continues on some details. The strategy paper refers to the
adoption of action plans with a life of 4-5 years and with a
mid-term review after 2 years. He said that Italy was
content with ENP developments. He underlined, however, that
the process was not a "shortcut" to membership, a notion
mistakenly held by Ukraine and Moldova among other partner
states; it represents a tool for development assistance for
eastern European countries. Quarone said that, in a nod to
Moscow's concerns, Russia would now be treated outside the
ENP, in a "strategic partnership" with the EU, which
recognizes its longer and more robust relationship with
Brussels. Some Neighborhood Funds could be used for projects
in Russia, he added. Quarone was hopeful that ENP
documentation could be approved by the European Council and
jointly signed by the partner states in July.

Iraq
--------------

3. (C) MFA Director for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
Luigi Mattiolo said that, given the unanimous UNSC approval
of the new Iraq resolution, he expects EU foreign ministers
and heads of government to have a productive discussion about
the way forward in Iraq. The EU will target political and
economic stability in its medium-term Iraq strategy; the
Council will also highlight the UN's central role. He said
that EU member states are optimistic about new relations with
Iraq and hopes the EU will augment its diplomatic and
development assistance personnel on the ground as soon as
possible after the June 30 handover. Ministers will also
discuss preparations and EU financial contributions for
elections. Iraqi debt reduction is not on the agenda for the
GAERC sessions. Mattiolo underlined that most debt
restructuring or forgiveness decisions will be made on a
bilateral basis.

Iran ) Carrots prevailing over sticks at the GAERC
-------------- --------------

4. (C) Poloff delivered points on Iran to MFA Office Director
for Arms Control Giovanni Iannuzzi. Iannuzzi said that there
would be little substantive discussion of the IAEA BOG at the
GAERC since the main focus is on Vienna. The EU-3 submitted
their draft BOG resolution (ref b) to other EU member states
on June 8. Iannuzzi described it as fairly balanced, drawing
heavily on El Baradei,s report -- nearly to the extent, as
he put it, of "plagiarism." The EU-3 reportedly asked each
member state to respond "bilaterally." Italy would like to
see more effective language added to provide a timeframe for
the on-going discussions with Iran. If Iran wants the BOG to
"leave it in peace" and resume a normal role in the IAEA, it
needs to immediately comply with the BOG's report. Italy
agrees that Iran must be completely transparent with respect
to its nuclear program, including P-2 and other activities.
Iannuzzi noted that, according to recent Reuters and AP
reports, even Khatami understands that the BOG cannot yet
close the book on Iran and will discuss it again in
September.


5. (C) Iannuzzi stressed the need, &in the spirit of

Vienna" to continue the dialogue between the BOG and the
rest of the IAEA in an effort to reach consensus. At the
GAERC, he said, Italy generally prefers a minimalist, rather
than tough, approach on Iran because of the desire to
maintain an open dialogue on the nuclear and other issues.
For example, the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights will resume
June 14-15 (ref c) after months of &postponements8 caused
by Iran,s displeasure with European support last November
for a UN human rights resolution. However, he said, the EU
is fully aware that it can not move forward on other issues
with Iran until the nuclear issue is resolved.

BMENA
--------------

6. (C) Poloff delivered points on the Middle East and Broader
Middle East and North Africa Initiative to MFA Office
Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Luca Ferrari. Ferrari
said Italy completely supports the BMENA and the draft US-UK
text at the G-8 Summit. Though acknowledging that the EU
drafted US-EU statement on the Broader Middle East was
disappointing, Ferrari said his office has not pushed the
Irish EU Presidency on this issue. The Italian DG for the
Middle East and Mediterranean, along with its counterparts in
other EU states, had submitted its input to the Irish
Presidency, but had not fought for any changes as long as the
text remained innocuous. He explained that, after six months
at the helm of the EU Presidency, Italy prefers to take a
back seat to the Irish. Unfortunately, the Irish Presidency
has turned out to be rather weak, especially after the
Spanish elections. Where before the Irish perceived a
critical mass of conservative like-minded countries
(including Italy) on issues like the Middle East, Zapatero,s
election has quelled Dublin,s eagerness to court these
members in an effort to pursue a strong EU policy, he said.


7. (C) Another problem, he added, was that the Irish
submitted their first draft too far in advance, giving
&every second secretary8 in every capital the opportunity
to add his two cents. Italy,s strategy during its
Presidency was to limit the discussion of draft statements,
which made Italy a stronger and more effective at the EU
helm. Now, he admitted, Italy is experiencing a bit of EU
fatigue and wants to avoid horse trading, although he agreed
that the end result was disappointing. The US-EU Summit, he
added, coming at a time of major changes in the EU, is
relatively unimportant, particularly in comparison with
recent major events such as President Bush's visit to Rome,
the G-8 summit, and the Istanbul Summit.

Middle East ) Looking to the US for Leadership
-------------- -

8. (C) On the Middle East Peace Process, Ferrari urged the
US, the de facto leader of the Quartet, to move the Road Map
forward, but stressed the need to collaborate with its
partners before presenting any initiatives. Poloff asked
about recent discussions by EU High Representative Solana and
by EU Quartet representative, Marc Otte, with the Egyptians.
Ferrari said nothing special resulted from either set of
discussions. Otte will play a collaborative but not
propositional role in the Quartet, preferring to keep a low
profile, since he is an EU bureaucrat rather than a political
animal, and hails from a relatively unimportant EU member
(Belgium).


9. (C) Ferrari said Italy is in favor of NATO involvement in
Gaza once the conditions are right, but the optimal solution
would be for an extension of the MFO,s mandate. He warned
that we must not let Hamas take control in Gaza. Arafat, he
commented, currently is playing a more collaborative role in
an effort to increase his freedom of movement.

SUDAN
--------------

10. (C) Stafano Dejak, East Africa Office Director, told
poloff that Sudan discussion at the GAERC and Council will
focus on ensuring that the UN system delivers aid to Darfur
using a coordinated approach, making clear to the Sudanese
government that it must comply fully with its commitments
rather than continuing with piecemeal concessions. Dejak
stressed that timing is essential - the window of opportunity
to provide needed humanitarian aid is closing rapidly. Dejak
said that Italy will provide funding for the peace observer
mission and will also deploy a military observer. Italy may
also provide funds for a Human Rights observer mission.

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2004ROME02309 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL