Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME3480
2004-09-13 04:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN RESPONSE TO 9/13 GAERC DEMARCHE
how-toThis 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 003480
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN RESPONSE TO 9/13 GAERC DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 193154
B. ROME 3399
C. ROME 3381
D. ROME 3285
Classified By: A/PolMinCouns Jonathan Cohen. Reasons 1.4 B and D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003480
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN RESPONSE TO 9/13 GAERC DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 193154
B. ROME 3399
C. ROME 3381
D. ROME 3285
Classified By: A/PolMinCouns Jonathan Cohen. Reasons 1.4 B and D.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A/DCM and A/PolMinCouns discussed Ref A
points with MFA Deputy Political Director Claudio Bisogniero
on September 10, as did PolOff with MFA Director for EU CFSP
Luigi Mattiolo on September 9. We have also raised Ref A
with various other Italian government interlocutors (Refs
B-D),including, most recently, MFA Under Secretary for the
Middle East and Africa Aflredo Mantica (septel). END SUMMARY.
Balkans
--------------
2. (SBU) MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo told
PolOff that while Balkans issues were not on the 9/13 formal
agenda, ministers were likely to include a short mention of
in-depth Balkans discussions at the Gymnich in Maastrict.
The EU will send an "exploratory mission" to Belgrade,
Podgorica and Pristina within the next two weeks, in
anticipation of a Patten/Solana visit by the end of
September. The goal of the visits is to clarify with local
officials the way forward on Kosovo Implementation of
Standards and general SaM progress towards EU accession.
Mattiolo was unaware of any planned discussion on Kosovo, but
appreciated receiving our views, noting there was "no light"
between US and Italian positions.
IRAQ
--------------
3. (SBU) Mattiolo told PolOff Ref A's Iraq points were
"music to my ears" because Italy has been pushing the EU to
provide funds for UNPROFOR. Mattiolo was disappointed with
Patten's "tone" at the Gymnich, which was "negative regarding
mobilization of the EU budget" for Iraq requirements.
Mattiolo was hopeful that by the time of the EU Ministers
meeting with Secretary Powell and Troika meeting with SYG
Annan on the margins of UNGA, like minded ministers will have
convinced the Commission of the need for a "more open
approach" to funding. MFA Deputy Political Director
Bisongniero told A/DCM that Italy would work with the UK over
the next few days to get the EU Commission to reconsider
making a significant EU contribution to the UN force for
Iraq. Bisogniero noted that, in addition, Italy would
contribute whatever was within its capacity. He found Ref A
suggestion of EU election experts particularly interesting
and said Italy would try to be of assistance in securing EU
election expert involvement.
IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Bisogniero stressed that Italy has maintained a very
tough line with Iran on nuclear issues and would continue to
do so. He said Italy was pleased that the trend was toward
Iranian engagement with the EU as a whole rather than
remaining limited to the UK, France and Germany, and pointed
to recent Iranian discussions with the Dutch. The Dutch, he
said, were also tough and straight-forward with the Iranians.
Bisongniero added that Italy believed the international
community must retain the threat of referring the issue to
the UNSC for the time being, because actually sending the
matter to New York can only be done once, after which
leverage on Iran would be lost. Mattiolo predicted the
outcome would not be as forward leaning as the USG proposed
in reftel. The EU would like to have more time to pressure
Iran and consolidate positions before going to the UNSC. The
November IAEA BOG report will be the next benchmark at which
the EU will decide on possible action against Tehran.
SUDAN
--------------
5. (SBU) Ministers will urge continued preparatory work by
the Commission in anticipation of a final scope/decision on
the AU force from Addis Ababa and New York. MFA East Africa
Office Director, Stafano Dejak stated that Italy and the EU
were in agreement with the UNSC draft resolution which he
said was essentially "interchangeable" with the conclusions
arrived at the COAFR Troika working group meeting. He
stressed the need to make things happen on the ground by
supporting the AU both in its efforts to bring about a
political solution through the Abuja talks and in its efforts
to carry out a feasible plan on the ground.
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME03480 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN RESPONSE TO 9/13 GAERC DEMARCHE
REF: A. STATE 193154
B. ROME 3399
C. ROME 3381
D. ROME 3285
Classified By: A/PolMinCouns Jonathan Cohen. Reasons 1.4 B and D.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. A/DCM and A/PolMinCouns discussed Ref A
points with MFA Deputy Political Director Claudio Bisogniero
on September 10, as did PolOff with MFA Director for EU CFSP
Luigi Mattiolo on September 9. We have also raised Ref A
with various other Italian government interlocutors (Refs
B-D),including, most recently, MFA Under Secretary for the
Middle East and Africa Aflredo Mantica (septel). END SUMMARY.
Balkans
--------------
2. (SBU) MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo told
PolOff that while Balkans issues were not on the 9/13 formal
agenda, ministers were likely to include a short mention of
in-depth Balkans discussions at the Gymnich in Maastrict.
The EU will send an "exploratory mission" to Belgrade,
Podgorica and Pristina within the next two weeks, in
anticipation of a Patten/Solana visit by the end of
September. The goal of the visits is to clarify with local
officials the way forward on Kosovo Implementation of
Standards and general SaM progress towards EU accession.
Mattiolo was unaware of any planned discussion on Kosovo, but
appreciated receiving our views, noting there was "no light"
between US and Italian positions.
IRAQ
--------------
3. (SBU) Mattiolo told PolOff Ref A's Iraq points were
"music to my ears" because Italy has been pushing the EU to
provide funds for UNPROFOR. Mattiolo was disappointed with
Patten's "tone" at the Gymnich, which was "negative regarding
mobilization of the EU budget" for Iraq requirements.
Mattiolo was hopeful that by the time of the EU Ministers
meeting with Secretary Powell and Troika meeting with SYG
Annan on the margins of UNGA, like minded ministers will have
convinced the Commission of the need for a "more open
approach" to funding. MFA Deputy Political Director
Bisongniero told A/DCM that Italy would work with the UK over
the next few days to get the EU Commission to reconsider
making a significant EU contribution to the UN force for
Iraq. Bisogniero noted that, in addition, Italy would
contribute whatever was within its capacity. He found Ref A
suggestion of EU election experts particularly interesting
and said Italy would try to be of assistance in securing EU
election expert involvement.
IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Bisogniero stressed that Italy has maintained a very
tough line with Iran on nuclear issues and would continue to
do so. He said Italy was pleased that the trend was toward
Iranian engagement with the EU as a whole rather than
remaining limited to the UK, France and Germany, and pointed
to recent Iranian discussions with the Dutch. The Dutch, he
said, were also tough and straight-forward with the Iranians.
Bisongniero added that Italy believed the international
community must retain the threat of referring the issue to
the UNSC for the time being, because actually sending the
matter to New York can only be done once, after which
leverage on Iran would be lost. Mattiolo predicted the
outcome would not be as forward leaning as the USG proposed
in reftel. The EU would like to have more time to pressure
Iran and consolidate positions before going to the UNSC. The
November IAEA BOG report will be the next benchmark at which
the EU will decide on possible action against Tehran.
SUDAN
--------------
5. (SBU) Ministers will urge continued preparatory work by
the Commission in anticipation of a final scope/decision on
the AU force from Addis Ababa and New York. MFA East Africa
Office Director, Stafano Dejak stated that Italy and the EU
were in agreement with the UNSC draft resolution which he
said was essentially "interchangeable" with the conclusions
arrived at the COAFR Troika working group meeting. He
stressed the need to make things happen on the ground by
supporting the AU both in its efforts to bring about a
political solution through the Abuja talks and in its efforts
to carry out a feasible plan on the ground.
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED
Visit Rome's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME03480 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL