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 NNNN 2004ROME02774 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL