Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME3381
2004-09-03 04:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALIAN VIEWS ON GYMNICH ISSUES

Tags:  PREL IZ IR IT EUN 
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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 003381 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2014
TAGS: PREL IZ IR IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON GYMNICH ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 182534


B. THE HAGUE 2172

C. ROME 3285

D. STATE 8716

Classified By: Charge Emil Skodon for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003381

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2014
TAGS: PREL IZ IR IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON GYMNICH ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 182534


B. THE HAGUE 2172

C. ROME 3285

D. STATE 8716

Classified By: Charge Emil Skodon for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Charge, accompanied by PolOff, met with MFA
Director General for Multilateral Political Affairs Giampiero
Massolo and NATO Office Director Giovanni Brauzzi on
September 1 to convey points from Ref A demarche. Italy
shares US views on most of the issues that EU Foreign
Ministers will discuss at their informal meetings September
3-4, but continues to take a softer approach on Iran and the
EU arms embargo against China. Italy also is seeking a
greater EU profile in several areas, including Iraq, the war
on terrorism, and Sudan. Although not on the Gymnich agenda,
Massolo again raised Italian concerns over enlargement of the
UN Security Council, and suggested it was time for the
Contact Group members to begin discussing options for Kosovo
final status among themselves. End summary.

Iraq -- Seeking greater EU role


2. (C) Thanking the Charge for his condolences regarding the
recent killing of Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni, Massolo
noted that the kidnapping and execution happened very
rapidly, leaving the Italian government no time to open
channels of communication with the kidnappers. Massolo
predicted that, although Iraq would not be a dominant feature
of the Gymnich, France would insist on some sort of statement
on the two kidnapped French journalists.


3. (C) Massolo also said that Foreign Minister Frattini will
call for increased EU action against terrorism. In Italy's
view, the French hostages demonstrate that no country is
immune from terrorism, regardless of its national position on
Iraq. Frattini will outline a series of steps, including
policy guidance for anti-terrorism efforts, intelligence
sharing, capacity building, and a more active communications
strategy. This strategy will also be presented in an
interview with the Foreign Minister that widely-read daily La
Repubblica will publish later this week.


4. (C) Commenting on Dutch Foreign Minister Bot's recent trip
to Baghdad (Ref B),Massolo said Italy sees three possible
roles for the EU in Iraq: UN protection, assisting the
political and electoral process, and police training. What

is currently lacking, he said, is the resolve to move forward
-- many EU member states want more EU involvement, but are
hesitant because of the security situation.


5. (C) Massolo viewed as a "very pragmatic solution" the US
proposal for a dual-hatted command for NATO training forces
in Iraq and MNF-I. Brauzzi agreed, adding that NATO's July
declaration, calling for unity of command with the MNF,
allowed for only a very "narrow interpretation."

Afghanistan -- Cautious optimism


6. (C) Massolo noted that the first phase of the US-provided
airlift of the Italian NRF brigade to Afghanistan is going
well, and should be completed by September 9. The October 9
elections will not be a model of transparency and fairness,
he commented, but it is important to get the process off to a
good start, especially in light of parliamentary elections
next year. He was encouraged by registration results and
said that international efforts to reach UNAMA's election
budget goals are proceeding "reasonably well." While there
are many unresolved questions in Afghanistan, overall the
situation is better than in Iraq and we must continue our
stabilization and capacity-building efforts.


7. (C) Charge thanked Italy for its recent disbursement of
funds for the Afghan election and asked its assistance to
push others to speed disbursements. Regarding PRTs, Massolo
acknowledged that the process had been slowed because of
supplemental efforts for the elections. He was noncommittal
about Italy's future plans regarding a PRT, stating that for
now the priority had to be election support.

Iran -- Emphasis on continued engagement


8. (C) Massoo's first reaction to Charge's points on the
Ira/IAEA issue was to inquire whether the USG's lobbyig
efforts to refer the matter to the UNSC were already
underway, to which the Charge replied in the affirmative.
Italy, he said, maintains its tradition of dialogue and
engagement with Iran. While it recognizes Iran's obligations
under the NPT, it believes the issue needs to be seen in the
larger framework of regional stability, human rights, and
terrorism. It is better not to have an unpredictable Iran
in the regional scenario, especially because of its
importance as a factor of stability -- or instability -- in
Iraq.

9. (C) The EU3's efforts have shed some light on Iran's
nuclear activities, Massolo continued. Pushing harder, he
warned, would make Tehran cut loose and go its own way.
Italy prefers alternative options such as sanctions and
strict access and verification agreements. Even if it is
difficult to gauge how effective this approach would be,
Italy believes it is worth considering. Massolo cited a
planned visit by Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National
Security Council Rowani to Europe as a sign that the Iranians
are thinking of making some overtures. The Italians
reportedly told Rowani not to come if he was going to repeat
his usual arguments; on the other hand, if he were ready to
make fresh commitments, Italy was ready to listen. This
approach, Massolo argued, is the most efficient way to get
Iran to abide by its NPT obligations and suspend its
enrichment activities.


10. (C) Noting that the EU3 will report at the Gymnich on
talks with Tehran, Massolo said that Italy had noticed a
different of perception amongst the three regarding Iran's
openness and availability. Now that the EU3 exercise is near
its end, FM Frattini will press the Dutch EU Presidency to
put the Iran issue into a "normal" EU framework (at 25 rather
than 3). The Charge warned not to let Rowani's European tour
become an effort to find fissures within the EU, and noted
that real action and verification on the part of the Iranians
needs to come first. Massolo agreed that verification is the
top priority. He said that the Iranians are playing for time
until after the US elections. Europe, meanwhile, is playing
the role of placeholder until Iran can have a direct dialogue
with the US.

China arms embargo -- Italy won't be the lone hold-out


11. (C) According to Massolo, Italy is close to the US
position on the China arms embargo; Rome is not pushing to
lift the embargo and is pushing for a more effective Code of
Conduct. France, he said, is the major force behind the move
to lift the embargo, insisting on inserting in the June EU
Council declaration "a half sentence" saying the EU would
revisit the issue. Massolo noted that in May-June he had the
impression that the EU was moving towards a more sympathetic
view of China, but that now that impression had changed and
the situation was relatively quiet. Summing up, Massolo
said, Italy was on the US' side, but "if there's a landslide,
we can't stand alone." He warned, however, of the need to
handle the issue with care to avoid turning it into a
contentious transatlantic topic.

Sudan -- Ready to assist


12. (C) Massolo said Italy would consider providing financial
and logistical support to Sudan if the African Union mandate
is increased, although resources are a tricky issue. Italy
also is waiting to see what EU High Representative for Common
Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Solana will propose --
Massolo opined that this should be an opportunity for Solana
to raise both his profile as the EU's "Foreign Minister" and
the EU's presence in Africa.

Turkey and Cyprus -- On the road to EU membership


13. (C) Italy is very supportive of setting a date to begin
negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU, according to
Massolo, and is "smoothing" the path to acceptance. He was
"fairly confident" that Turkey would eventually join the EU,
but it wouldn't be easy. Though the French present a
problem, he felt there was a growing consensus -- maybe even
a majority -- within the EU that a date should be set at the
December EU Council. Because Turkey increasingly appears as

a moderate Muslim country, it could be a useful tool for
combating problems with Islam in Europe, he opined, something
the French should recognize. Commenting on the "ideological
barrier" of allowing a Muslim country into the EU, Massolo
noted that there are already many Muslims in the EU and that
they often play a constructive role -- just look at what's
happening with the hostage situation in France, he said.


14. (C) Massolo agreed with the Charge on the need to help
Turkish Cypriots. Italy is trying to help calm the situation
by talking to the Greeks to enlist their support. Meanwhile,
he said, the EU should act as if the referendum had been
successful and give the Turkish Cypriots the benefits of
membership, creating a "snowball" effect that would increase
the momentum toward EU membership. Massolo said he was
"pretty confident" that eventually this would happen.

Kosovo -- Wedded to standards before status, but looking ahead


15. (C) Italy is adopting a prudent and realistic attitude in
Kosovo. Massolo said preparation and prioritization of
standards were important for success -- the Kosovars must
know what is expected of them. However, he said that it was
time to start thinking about what comes next and to start
talking about status -- albeit not publicly, lest the Contact
Group lose the support and cooperation of the local
population. Massolo envisioned a state of "conditional
independence" that could involve a strong international
presence -- but no partitions. He said that the Contact
Group should work on decentralization and coexistence, and
that meeting on the margins of the UNGA presents a good
opportunity to take a focused look at the way forward. We
have to have a plan, Massolo emphasized, in order not to be
taken by surprise, noting that the situation in Kosovo could
still explode at any time with "nasty" consequences. He gave
Charge a paper on this subject that he had shared with other
Contact Group members. He looked forward to discussing
Kosovo with A/S Jones on the margins of the UNGA.

Albania -- Troubled waters


16. (C) Touching briefly on the downing of an Italian
helicopter in Albania (Ref B),Massolo noted that Rome's
bilateral relationship with Tirana is not so pleasant at the
moment. Describing the Albanians as very proud and
independent people, Massolo said Italy was trying to think of
ways to improve the relationship.

UNSC Reform -- Italy suggests means of pacifying Japan


17. (C) Massolo raised the issue of UNSC reform, arguing that
since the US has not publicly stated its opposition to new
permanent members, "the kids are playing." He argued that if
the UN panel concludes that there should be more
non-permanent seats, the US should tell Japan "behind closed
doors" that this would be a fair outcome for Tokyo, which
could be continuously reelected. Massolo's implication was
that the US could both satisfy Japan's long-standing request
for UNSC membership and fend off Germany's quest for a
permanent seat. Italy also advocates rotations on the UNSC
within regions. Asia, he suggested, could be split into two
regional groups, with Japan serving longer rotations in an
East Asia regional group.

BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED

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

SKODON


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2004ROME03381 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL