Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME3136
2004-08-13 15:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN VIEWS ON UNSC REFORM, WEOG ROTATION FOR
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003136
SIPDIS
"NOTE BY CIB: PROCESS AS IS PER S/ES-O: JASON DONOVAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2014
TAGS: OPDC PHUM PREL IT UNSC
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON UNSC REFORM, WEOG ROTATION FOR
CHR MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES
REF: A. STATE 172297
B. ROME 2745
C. STATE 163634
Classified By: A/DCM Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003136
SIPDIS
"NOTE BY CIB: PROCESS AS IS PER S/ES-O: JASON DONOVAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2014
TAGS: OPDC PHUM PREL IT UNSC
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON UNSC REFORM, WEOG ROTATION FOR
CHR MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES
REF: A. STATE 172297
B. ROME 2745
C. STATE 163634
Classified By: A/DCM Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Italy appreciates the Ref C enunciation of
USG views on UN Security Council reform, which it views as a
matter of vital national interest, and fully agrees that
effectiveness be the standard by which reform is judged.
Italy also will support the USG goal (Ref A) of reaching
agreement on WEOG rotation in the UN Commission on Human
Rights (CHR) this year, according to MFA officials. End
summary.
2. (C) A/DCM delivered ref A letter to MFA Acting DG for
Multilateral Political Affairs Claudio Bisogniero on August
13. Although admitting that the issue of CHR membership
was not currently on Italy's radar, Bisogniero said Rome has
always been very supportive of the initiative to develop a
WEOG rotation, noting that Italy (at US request) withdrew its
candidacy two years ago to allow the US to re-gain a seat.
Bisogniero said Italy would be in touch with other
like-minded countries (such as Iceland, Canada, and the
Netherlands) to develop support for a rotating WEOG
membership in UNCHR.
3. (C) Turning to the Committee on Democracy (CD),Bisogniero
said FM Frattini had written to the members of the Convening
Group suggesting a meeting in Washington in early September
regarding CD enlargement. Italy has actively participated in
the Convening Group as an invited guest for the past year.
Of the two proposals put forward by the Committee chair -- to
enlarge the Convening Group either by two or by six -- Italy
favors the latter. This option would provide an additional
seat for each region, for a total of 16 seats, and Italy
would definitely like to hold one of the new European seats.
Bisogniero said he would fax a copy of Frattini's letter to
the Embassy, which Post will forward to EUR/WE.
4. (C) On UNSC Reform, A/DCM drew from Ref C points,
emphasizing that the US is listening mode, waiting with
interest for the results of the Eminent Persons Panel, and
that it will play a constructive role in follow-up
discussions, with UNSC effectiveness being our key concern.
Bisogniero agreed with the standard set in Ref C that any
UNSC reform proposal should be judged on its effectiveness.
Thanking the US for presenting this standard, Bisogniero said
that to obtain effective multilateralism, the focus should
be on creating
a rapid decision-making process -- a process that enlarging
the UNSC would only complicate. Russia, he opined, has no
interest in sharing the "eminent" position it holds in the
UNSC with Germany, despite public comments to the contrary.
He commented that the Spanish position is very close to
Italy's.
5. (C) Citing an August 12 front-page article in
top-circulation Corriere della Sera by Chamber of Deputies
President Casini, Bisogniero noted that the debate over UNSC
is heating up in the Italian press. (Note. UNSC reform was
also discussed at the July 27 meeting of Italian Ambassadors,
where President Ciampi called for an EU seat on the UNSC.
End note). UNSC reform, Bisogniero concluded, has enormous
implications domestically because it reflects Italy's
importance in the international arena. Bisogniero was
anxious to keep in close touch with Washington on this
issue.
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME03136 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
"NOTE BY CIB: PROCESS AS IS PER S/ES-O: JASON DONOVAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2014
TAGS: OPDC PHUM PREL IT UNSC
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON UNSC REFORM, WEOG ROTATION FOR
CHR MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES
REF: A. STATE 172297
B. ROME 2745
C. STATE 163634
Classified By: A/DCM Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Italy appreciates the Ref C enunciation of
USG views on UN Security Council reform, which it views as a
matter of vital national interest, and fully agrees that
effectiveness be the standard by which reform is judged.
Italy also will support the USG goal (Ref A) of reaching
agreement on WEOG rotation in the UN Commission on Human
Rights (CHR) this year, according to MFA officials. End
summary.
2. (C) A/DCM delivered ref A letter to MFA Acting DG for
Multilateral Political Affairs Claudio Bisogniero on August
13. Although admitting that the issue of CHR membership
was not currently on Italy's radar, Bisogniero said Rome has
always been very supportive of the initiative to develop a
WEOG rotation, noting that Italy (at US request) withdrew its
candidacy two years ago to allow the US to re-gain a seat.
Bisogniero said Italy would be in touch with other
like-minded countries (such as Iceland, Canada, and the
Netherlands) to develop support for a rotating WEOG
membership in UNCHR.
3. (C) Turning to the Committee on Democracy (CD),Bisogniero
said FM Frattini had written to the members of the Convening
Group suggesting a meeting in Washington in early September
regarding CD enlargement. Italy has actively participated in
the Convening Group as an invited guest for the past year.
Of the two proposals put forward by the Committee chair -- to
enlarge the Convening Group either by two or by six -- Italy
favors the latter. This option would provide an additional
seat for each region, for a total of 16 seats, and Italy
would definitely like to hold one of the new European seats.
Bisogniero said he would fax a copy of Frattini's letter to
the Embassy, which Post will forward to EUR/WE.
4. (C) On UNSC Reform, A/DCM drew from Ref C points,
emphasizing that the US is listening mode, waiting with
interest for the results of the Eminent Persons Panel, and
that it will play a constructive role in follow-up
discussions, with UNSC effectiveness being our key concern.
Bisogniero agreed with the standard set in Ref C that any
UNSC reform proposal should be judged on its effectiveness.
Thanking the US for presenting this standard, Bisogniero said
that to obtain effective multilateralism, the focus should
be on creating
a rapid decision-making process -- a process that enlarging
the UNSC would only complicate. Russia, he opined, has no
interest in sharing the "eminent" position it holds in the
UNSC with Germany, despite public comments to the contrary.
He commented that the Spanish position is very close to
Italy's.
5. (C) Citing an August 12 front-page article in
top-circulation Corriere della Sera by Chamber of Deputies
President Casini, Bisogniero noted that the debate over UNSC
is heating up in the Italian press. (Note. UNSC reform was
also discussed at the July 27 meeting of Italian Ambassadors,
where President Ciampi called for an EU seat on the UNSC.
End note). UNSC reform, Bisogniero concluded, has enormous
implications domestically because it reflects Italy's
importance in the international arena. Bisogniero was
anxious to keep in close touch with Washington on this
issue.
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME03136 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL