Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME4056
2004-10-20 13:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY SYMPATHETIC ON VENEZUELA BUT PREFERS EU TO
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 004056
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2009
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY SYMPATHETIC ON VENEZUELA BUT PREFERS EU TO
BILATERAL ACTION
REF: STATE 223273
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Tom Countryman for reasons
1.4(b)(d).
(C) Laborcouns delivered reftel points October 18 to
Giuseppe Calvetta, Director of the Italian MFA Office on
Human Rights. Calvetta, although sympathetic to human rights
concerns in Venezuela, took a cautious approach. Because
there are so many Italians in Venezuela, he said he did not
want to create "a difficult climate" for them with the
government. Calvetta said Rome preferred to deal with this
issue in a broader EU context and noted there would be a
November 16 COLAT meeting where the issue would likely be
addressed. When pressed, he agreed that the proposed curbs
on press freedom and human rights could affect
Italian-Venezuelans as well, and he promised to take the
issue to the DG for Political and Multinational Affairs.
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME04056 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2009
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY SYMPATHETIC ON VENEZUELA BUT PREFERS EU TO
BILATERAL ACTION
REF: STATE 223273
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Tom Countryman for reasons
1.4(b)(d).
(C) Laborcouns delivered reftel points October 18 to
Giuseppe Calvetta, Director of the Italian MFA Office on
Human Rights. Calvetta, although sympathetic to human rights
concerns in Venezuela, took a cautious approach. Because
there are so many Italians in Venezuela, he said he did not
want to create "a difficult climate" for them with the
government. Calvetta said Rome preferred to deal with this
issue in a broader EU context and noted there would be a
November 16 COLAT meeting where the issue would likely be
addressed. When pressed, he agreed that the proposed curbs
on press freedom and human rights could affect
Italian-Venezuelans as well, and he promised to take the
issue to the DG for Political and Multinational Affairs.
SEMBLER
NNNN
2004ROME04056 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL