Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME2763
2004-07-15 14:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY SAYS CURRENT ICJ/SECURITY BARRIER RESOLUTION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 002763
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS IT UNGA ICJ
SUBJECT: ITALY SAYS CURRENT ICJ/SECURITY BARRIER RESOLUTION
LANGUAGE UNACCEPTABLE; WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON VOTE
REF: STATE 152014
UNCLAS ROME 002763
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS IT UNGA ICJ
SUBJECT: ITALY SAYS CURRENT ICJ/SECURITY BARRIER RESOLUTION
LANGUAGE UNACCEPTABLE; WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON VOTE
REF: STATE 152014
1. (SBU) MFA Director for Egypt, Israel and the Occupied
Territories Luca Sorgi told poloff that Italy found
unacceptable a number of paragraphs in the current Arab Group
draft resolution calling for UNGA endorsement of the ICJ
advisory opinion on the Israeli security barrier. He
mentioned specifically that the general attempt to move the
process away from a negotiated settlement and towards a
legally binding decision was unhelpful. He said Italy shares
the EU position as stated in the July 12 GAERC conclusions
which endorses the Roadmap process and calls for enhanced EU
participation through the Quartet.
2. (SBU) When pressed, Sorgi said that Italian objections to
the draft were not sufficiently strong to promise a "no"
vote. The draft was under "careful scrutiny" by a group of
experts under the guidance of the EU Presidency in New York.
Italy also wanted to wait for the results of attempts in New
York to convince the Arab Group to revise the draft. Such
revisions would have to take into account reftel concerns,
including acknowledgment of recent court decisions in Israel
mandating changes in the barrier's route, with which the
Government of Israel has indicated it will comply. When
poloff further pressed Sorgi for Italy's vote should the
draft be presented for an UNGA decision as currently written,
he declined to speculate, saying only that the EU would
coordinate a common position.
3. (U) MFA Office Director for UN/IO Alessandro Busacca
reiterated that Italy and its EU partners were aware of and
shared US concerns as outlined in reftel. He noted that
Italy's delegation in New York was working actively on the
issue.
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME02763 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IS IT UNGA ICJ
SUBJECT: ITALY SAYS CURRENT ICJ/SECURITY BARRIER RESOLUTION
LANGUAGE UNACCEPTABLE; WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON VOTE
REF: STATE 152014
1. (SBU) MFA Director for Egypt, Israel and the Occupied
Territories Luca Sorgi told poloff that Italy found
unacceptable a number of paragraphs in the current Arab Group
draft resolution calling for UNGA endorsement of the ICJ
advisory opinion on the Israeli security barrier. He
mentioned specifically that the general attempt to move the
process away from a negotiated settlement and towards a
legally binding decision was unhelpful. He said Italy shares
the EU position as stated in the July 12 GAERC conclusions
which endorses the Roadmap process and calls for enhanced EU
participation through the Quartet.
2. (SBU) When pressed, Sorgi said that Italian objections to
the draft were not sufficiently strong to promise a "no"
vote. The draft was under "careful scrutiny" by a group of
experts under the guidance of the EU Presidency in New York.
Italy also wanted to wait for the results of attempts in New
York to convince the Arab Group to revise the draft. Such
revisions would have to take into account reftel concerns,
including acknowledgment of recent court decisions in Israel
mandating changes in the barrier's route, with which the
Government of Israel has indicated it will comply. When
poloff further pressed Sorgi for Italy's vote should the
draft be presented for an UNGA decision as currently written,
he declined to speculate, saying only that the EU would
coordinate a common position.
3. (U) MFA Office Director for UN/IO Alessandro Busacca
reiterated that Italy and its EU partners were aware of and
shared US concerns as outlined in reftel. He noted that
Italy's delegation in New York was working actively on the
issue.
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME02763 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED