EU GAERC - ITALY CONFIRMS MINISTERS WILL ENDORSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003927

SIPDIS


PM FOR DAS SUCHAN, JCS FOR BG REMINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM IT EUN
SUBJECT: EU GAERC - ITALY CONFIRMS MINISTERS WILL ENDORSE
DECISION TO LIFT LIBYA ARMS EMBARGO; WILL DISCUSS US
CONCERNS OVER CHINA ARMS EMBARGO

REF: STATE 214023

Classified By: POL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON:1.5 (B)(D
)

Libya
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1. (C) MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo confirmed to
poloff that EU Ministers would endorse the COREPER decision
to lift completely the ban on arms exports to Libya at the
October 11 GAERC. Mattiolo underlined that this would not
mean a rush of sales of lethal weapons to Tripoli. There
will be a period of some weeks between the endorsement and
formal removal of the embargo, during which the Commission
will prepare documentation for Member State approval. He
also stressed that even after the embargo is lifted, States
would be constrained in the types and quantities of weapons
sales to Libya by the EU Code of Conduct. Mattiolo noted that
Italy itself has some of the strictest legislation in the EU
relating to arms exports, and, given Libya's proximity, it is
certainly in Italy's interests to monitor closely the types
of weapons purchased by the regime in Tripoli.

China
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2. (C) According to Mattiolo, PM DAS Suchan and JCS BG
Remington "left quite an impression" in the wake of their
visits this week to certain EU capitals, including Rome, to
explain US concerns over lifting the EU's China arms embargo.
Mattiolo said that those concerns, among other issues, will
be discussed by Ministers at the GAERC, but "there is no
rush, and no way the Ministers will decide on October 11" to
lift the embargo. Mattiolo repeated the position he used
with Suchan and Remington: Italy supports, but is not out in
front pushing for, lifting the embargo, and US concerns on
strategic issues would be satisfied by the Code of Conduct.
According to Mattiolo, Italy will push for a review of the
code, and to include the US in discussions on how it can be
modified to more effectively prevent delivery to China of
weapons systems that could put US or EU troops at risk.
Note: We will report details of Suchan/Remington's Rome
meetings septel. Subsequent to the visit, Embassy Office of
Defense Cooperation chief was contacted by the dip advisor to
the Ministry of Productive Activities with an offer to
consult on the Code of Conduct. Poloff will seek more detail
on the advisor's agenda for the meeting and seek Department's
guidance before proceeding.

Sudan
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3. (C) Mattiolo reported that he has been working with the
MOD Chief of Staff to identify an Italian officer to join the
British, German (EU Staff),Swedish, French and American
military advisors at the African Union's planning cell in
Addis Ababa. Ministers may also discuss deployment of an EU
police training team to the region.


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2004ROME03927 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL