ITALY - FOLLOW UP ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002774

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR AF.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF PARM MOPS AU SU IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY - FOLLOW UP ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
FORCE FOR DARFUR

REF: A. STATE 153857


B. ROME 02765

Classified By: A/Pol M/C Paula Thiede for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This cable includes a guidance request. Please see
paragraph 5.


2. (C) After consulting on ref A demarche with MFA colleagues
and the Dutch EU Presidency, Stefano Dejak, MFA East Africa
Office Director, toned down the skepticism expressed in ref B
by stating that Italy and the EU are prepared to consider the
idea of broadening the international protection force but
need more clarification on whether this means an expansion of
the AU force, a new force under AU auspices, or a new
grouping altogether. He welcomed further exchanges on this
issue and agreed that "we must use all means possible to put
pressure on Sudan," including garnering UN support and taking
further measures against the government.


3. (C) Dejak reiterated the need to act quickly to ensure
delivery of humanitarian assistance and said that the EU
planned to deliver a demarche in Khartoum in order to
maintain pressure on the GOS. He also reported that Bruno
Cabras, MFA Director General for Sub-Saharan Africa, planned
to speak with the Sudanese Ambassador to Rome today (July 16)
and that Italian missions both in Khartoum and Addis Ababa
had been alerted. He stressed the importance of accurately
assessing progress on the ground in order to keep the GOS
loyal to its commitments.


4. (C) Dejak also clarified that the 12 million euro approved
by the EU on June 10th is available for both the monitoring
mechanism as well as the AU protection force.


5. (C) Guidance Request: Embassy would appreciate receiving
more information on plans for a broadened international
protection force.


6. (U) Minimize considered for Khartoum.

Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m

SEMBLER


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2004ROME02774 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL