SOMALIA: ITALY SEEKS U.S. PARTICIPATION IN JOINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003666 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF, EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2014 TAGS: PREL SO IT UN SUBJECT: SOMALIA: ITALY SEEKS U.S. PARTICIPATION IN JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE FOR SOMALIA Classified By: A/DCM Tom Countryman for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This cable includes a guidance request. Please see paragraph 7. Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) Bruno Cabras, MFA Director General for Sub-Saharan Africa, requested a meeting with A/DCM on September 21 to request U.S. participation in the protocol joint monitoring committee designed to support the soon to be formed Somali transitional government. Cabras urged the U.S. to take on a leadership role in the committee and requested U.S. support for a prominent Italian position. Cabras also suggested forming a troika composed of the U.S., the UK and Italy. Embassy requests guidance on how to respond to the MFA's solicitation for U.S. participation in the protocol joint monitoring committee and troika. End Summary Joint Protocol -------------- ¶3. (C) Cabras stated that the national Somali assembly is scheduled to select a president on October 27 and a new transitional government should be in place soon after. According to Cabras, one of the first objectives of the new government is to sign a protocol with the international community. This protocol, which is already substantially drafted, is made up of three "pillars." The first pillar defines the basic principles that the international community expects the Somali government to uphold (respect for human rights, rule of law, good governance, religious freedom, anti-terrorism etc...). The second pillar outlines a rapid assistance program designed to help the country within the next six months and a long-term assistance plan which will be initiated through a donors' conference hosted by the Italians. The third pillar "creates a joint monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the protocol." According to Cabras, the protocol, and especially the joint monitoring committee, would guarantee the Somalis the support of the international community while simultaneously allowing the international community to keep tabs on the new Somali authorities. Joint Monitoring Committee and Leadership Roles -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Cabras stated that the international community must act fast to set up the committee and decide how it will be composed and who will play the leading roles. He stated that the committee would be similar to the overseeing bodies formed in the Ivory Coast (Comite de Suivi) and for the Great Lakes region (International Support Committee to the Transition - CIAT). Under normal circumstances the UN would have a lead role in such a body, but Cabras doubted the UN would be interested in taking on this responsibility in Somalia. EU partners are aware of the idea, but he said, the bureaucracy involved in identifying a role agreeable to all 25 members would be too time consuming and thus impractical. He stressed Italy's interest in playing a prominent role and suggested the possibility of appointing an Italian, specifically Mario Raffaelli, a former MFA undersecretary and special envoy for the Italian government to Somalia, as either a special representative or EU representative. He stated that, besides the Italians, the Europeans with the greatest interest in this matter are the British, because of Somaliland, and the Swedes, due to the large immigrant Somali population in Sweden. The U.S. Role and Possibly a Troika -------------- ¶5. (C) Cabras expressed hope that the U.S. would be interested in participating in the joint monitoring committee and suggested exploring the role of co-chairman for the U.S. Cabras also requested U.S. support for a leading Italian role, specifically the assignment of Raffaelli to a prominent position. Cabras stated that Italy would also like to explore the idea of a troika made up of Italy, the UK and the U.S. to take on a role. He stated that this idea had been previously discussed with A/AS Charles Snyder as well as with the British. Cabras was vague as to the role of such a body, but suggested that it could serve as the active core of the monitoring committee. It would also provide a level of comfort to the British due to their concerns in Somaliland. Sweden's Role -------------- ¶6. (C) According to Cabras, the Swedish government will hold a preparatory meeting in Stockholm on October 29 to finalize details regarding the joint monitoring committee. Cabras indicated that regional and international organizations would also be invited but that a final determination as to the participants was still pending. He hoped that the U.S. would participate in this meeting and take on a leadership role along with the Italians. Embassy Guidance Request -------------- ¶7. (C) A/DCM assured Cabras that his message would be conveyed to the Department. Embassy welcomes any further knowledge the Department or posts may have on the above proposal and requests guidance on how to respond to the MFA regarding U.S. interest and possible participation in the protocol, the joint monitoring committee and the troika concept. SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME03666 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL