Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME2912
2004-07-28 04:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALIAN SUGGESTIONS ON COALITION STATEMENT ON

Tags:  IT IZ MARR MOPS OPDC PREL IRAQI FREEDOM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002912 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014
TAGS: IT IZ MARR MOPS OPDC PREL IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUGGESTIONS ON COALITION STATEMENT ON
TERRORISM

REF: A. STATE 161899

B. RUGGIERO-COUNTRYMAN E-MAIL 27 JULY

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1
.4 (A) (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002912

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2014
TAGS: IT IZ MARR MOPS OPDC PREL IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUGGESTIONS ON COALITION STATEMENT ON
TERRORISM

REF: A. STATE 161899

B. RUGGIERO-COUNTRYMAN E-MAIL 27 JULY

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1
.4 (A) (D)


1. (C) Embassy Rome delivered ref A message and draft
statement July 27 to MFA officials Deputy PolDir Bisogniero
and Director-General (A/S equivalent) for Middle East Sessa.
Because both officials were occupied with the current Italian
Chiefs of Mission conference, they conferred and delivered
their response through the Director of the Gulf Affairs
office, Luigi Maccotta. Italy was fully on board with the
substance of the message, but Maccotta raised several
questions about the method of issuing the statement and about
the exact words to be used.

-- Was the USG confident that the message would have a
deterrent effect on terrorists in Iraq? Was it an equal or
higher objective to show solidarity with Bulgaria?
-- Could the focus on "the coalition" in the statement
actually undermine our common effort to expand the
international community's participation in Iraq? Maccotta
noted that since the passage of UNSCR 1546, we had focused on
the international community's mandated responsbility in Iraq,
as in the G-8 summit statement.
-- The statement ought to recognize also the contributions
made and risks run by states (and their citizens) that are
not part of the military coalition. Recent kidnappings have
in fact targetted citizens of non-coalition countries. For
example, the fourth tick refers to endangering "all coalition
members." It would be more inclusive and accurate to refer
to the threat of "all members of the international community
working to assist the Iraqi people" or something similar.
-- Finally, Maccotta asked if the USG would issue the
statement first and await endorsement from coalition
countries? Or were we instead asking for clearance on a
specific text before issuing?


2. (C) Following receipt of ref B, POL MC called on Maccotta
to tell him that the USG was seeking clearance from coalition
members before issuing the statement. We were open to
suggestions both on the exact text and on the method of
issuing the statement. For example, we could insert language
that emphasized the international community and its mandate
under the UN resolution rather than emphasizing the
multinational military coalition. Maccotta appreciated this
reply, particularly our flexibility on exact language, and
undertook to provide Italian approval of the concept as well
as suggested changes, if any, not later than OOB July 28.


3. (C) Embassy also emphasized to Maccotta (and to Francesco
Trupiano, diplomatic adviser to Minister of Defense Martino,
our interest in unifying the coalition response to hostage
taking and rescue operations. Both took the point on board
without comment.



4. Minimize considered

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

SEMBLER


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2004ROME02912 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL