Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME4180
2004-10-28 16:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALIAN POSITIONS ON NOVEMBER 2 GAERC AGENDA

Tags:  PREL 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.

281610Z Oct 04
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004180 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN POSITIONS ON NOVEMBER 2 GAERC AGENDA

REF: A) STATE 228399 B) STATE 230353

Classified By: POLMINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.4 (B)(D).

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IRAQ
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004180

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN POSITIONS ON NOVEMBER 2 GAERC AGENDA

REF: A) STATE 228399 B) STATE 230353

Classified By: POLMINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.4 (B)(D).

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IRAQ
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1. (C) MFA Director for EU CFSP Luigi Mattiolo told poloff
that the PSC was busy preparing documentation on Iraq for the
GAERC and follow-on Council meeting. He also confirmed that
Iraqi PM Allawi will have lunch with the Council at 25 plus 3
on November 5. Member States are firming up an economic
resource package to discuss in detail with Allawi that will
include funding for election preparations and general
security needs. GAERC and Council discussions will also take
into account the recent Commission fact-finding mission to
Iraq, with an eye towards presenting Allawi with an
assistance plan on rule of law sectors - judicial,
penitentiary and especially police training. According to
Mattiolo the major concern of some member states is security
for both the trainers and the Iraqi trainees. He was
therefore encouraged to see that the US supports a program
that would, at least initially, operate outside of Iraq.
Mattiolo believed starting the program in Amman would answer
the security concerns. He also confirmed that foreign
ministers would discuss a draft communiqu for the November
22 conference on Iraq in Egypt, and that Italy would support
quick disbursement of funds pledged at the Tokyo Donors'
conference.

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IRAN
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2. (C) Mattiolo said that the Iran discussion among ministers
over lunch on November 2 would likely be limited to a draft
resolution on human rights. The EU recognizes that a
commitment by Iran to suspend indefinitely plutonium
enrichment is a precondition for any further "carrots" from
Brussels. Mattiolo said that if such a commitment was not
forthcoming from Teheran by the November 25 IAEA BOG, he "saw
no alternative" to the EU joining the USG in recommending
that the issue be taken up by the UNSC. Mattiolo hoped that
the threat of UN and EU sanctions would move the moderates in
Teheran to take more control of the debate.

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MEPP
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3. (C) Mattiolo said the GAERC is scheduled to "assess fully"
the latest developments since the Knesset decision to
dismantle all settlements in Gaza. This is a "delicate" time

for Sharon, Mattiolo said, and the EU must move carefully so
as not to derail any momentum towards a political solution.
Discussions would include an evaluation of Palestinian
leadership reaction to the decision, as well as EU assistance
for required Palestinian police training needs coincident
with withdrawal of Israeli security forces.

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SUDAN
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4. (C) MFA East Africa Office Director Fabrizio Pignatelli
said that 80 million euros in aid has been approved by the
Commission and will be available shortly - he could not
confirm if this would happen by mid-November as requested in
ref a. He stressed the strong EU and Italian interest in the
AU Mission and Darfur, and underlined Italy's bilateral
increase of 450,000 euros in Italian funding for the AU
mission, increasing the total to 650,000. According to
Pignatelli, the AU had asked through the Italian Embassy in
Addis Ababa on October 27 that the Italian contribution be
dedicated to logistics - he added that committing this money
may take a week or so due to internal administrative
procedures. Both Pignatelli and Mattiolo confirmed that
Italy will be sending a planning officer to join the 'foreign
planers unit' for Darfur in the next couple of days to help
with logistics and may send another officer in the next few
weeks.

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SOMALIA
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5. (C) Mattiolo said that Somalia would be discussed, at
Italy's request, under "any other business" during the GAERC.

The AU was in the initial stages of planning for "thousands"
of observers, and Italy will encourage the international
community to"re-engage" on Somalia; the upcoming donors'
conference in Stockholm would be a good start. Mattiolo
predicted that the next few months would be a "window of
opportunity" to stabilize the new government and eliminate
Somalia's status as a "haven for terrorists." He hoped
that by the time of the next GAERC (Nov 22) the EU would have
undertaken a serious assessment of the situation and be ready
to approve a plan to assist the AU's efforts. Mattiolo said
that Italy is working closely with the UK on leading this
effort in the EU.

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RUSSIA
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6. (C) Mattiolo said that Russia was not currently on the
GAERC agenda, but that the Commission and Presidency were
preparing documents for the November 11 Russia-EU Summit.
Those documents will emphasize the importance of Russia and
the EU working closely together on terrorist threats, but at
the same time underline respect for rule of law and human
rights. "We will not give Moscow a blank check." underlined
Mattiolo. The EU will also push for accelerated progress on
"frozen conflicts" in Moldova and elsewhere in the FSU,
including more robust cooperation with the OSCE.


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2004ROME04180 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL