ITALIAN CONCEPT PAPER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004216

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2014
TAGS: PREL IZ IT NATO
SUBJECT: ITALIAN CONCEPT PAPER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON IRAQ

Classified By: Pol M/C Thomas Countryman, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Pol M/C met with MFA Office Director for the
Gulf States Luigi Maccotta on October 29 to discuss Iraqi PM
Allawi's November 3-4 visit to Rome and the upcoming
international conference on Iraq in Egypt. Maccotta had
requested the meeting to present Italy's non-paper for the
conference, reprinted in paragraph 5 below. End summary.


2. (C) Maccotta briefed Pol M/C October 29 on an Italian
non-paper outlining Italian objectives for the upcoming
international conference on Iraq in Cairo. Maccotta said
Italian Foreign Minister Frattini had discussed the non-paper
with his Iraqi and Egyptian counterparts. FM Zibari's
suggestion for dealing with the question of representation of
other political actors at the conference was that the final
communiqu should encourage the Iraqi government to convene a
broad meeting of political parties to brief them on the
outcomes of the conference.


3. (C) Commenting on the Egyptian draft communiqu, Maccotta
said that it was satisfactory but should draw on more of the
ideas outlined in the Italian non-paper, especially regarding
1) ownership of the political process and the domestic
security situation; 2) the need for regional and neighboring
states to take on more responsibility for controlling their
own borders in order to stabilize the security situation; and
3) the need for the UN to mobilize its efforts to provide
election support.


4. (C) Maccotta also provided Pol M/C with Allawi's tentative
schedule, which includes a dinner hosted by FM Frattini
November 3, followed by a working meeting with PM Berlusconi
(attended also by FMs Zibari and Frattini) and a call on Pope
John Paul II on November 4. PM Allawi will then attend a
lunch at which he will address Italian businessmen, followed
by press availability, before departing Italy the afternoon
of November 4. The Iraqi Minister of Planning will have a
separate meeting with Treasury Minister Siniscalco.


5. (C) Begin text of Italian non-paper.

Objective:

The International Conference should aim at the full
implementation of UNSC resolution 1546, and mainly at easing
the completion of the internal political process through the
continuing involvement of the international community in
supporting Iraqi ownership and the constructive engagement of
neighboring countries.

Agenda:

The agenda should be short and focused on political
transition and regional security;
Security should be recognized as a common concern with
different perceptions, which has to be discussed in a
non-confrontational manner.

Participants:

This is a matter which should be mainly decided by the IIG,
in a spirit of inclusiveness;
It could be useful to consider the invitation of members of
the interim National Council. The Iraqi Government could be
encouraged to organize a meeting to be held in Iraq with
relevant religious organizations and representatives of Iraqi
civil society to share the results of the Conference.

Outcome:

As an immediate result, the Conference should send a strong
signal that elections in Iraq will take place as scheduled by
the end of January 2005, in order to complete the full
transition to democracy as foreseen in December 2006.

The Conference should aim at promoting the conditions for a
more pro-active role by UN as stipulated in resolution 1546.
The initiatives of other International and Regional
Organizations invited in Iraq by the IIG (Arab League, OIC,
EU, NATO, OSCE, etc.) should complement the UN role in the
political process endorsed by UNSC resolution 1546.

The Conference should encourage neighboring countries to
support IIG efforts to neutralize those forces (insurgents
including former regime elements, foreign fighters, illegal
militias) whose violence is undermining the political process
in Iraq, by exerting strict control of their borders in a
spirit of cooperative security.


The Conference should assist the new Iraqi leaders to
thoroughly illustrate the way they intend to take security in
their own hands by:

- seeking the reconstruction of the Iraqi security forces at
a level consistent with their legitimate national security
needs, on the understanding that the pace of such process
directly affects the exit strategy for international
stabilization forces;

- adhering, as soon as conditions are in place, to the
Chemical Weapons Convention and to the IAEA Additional
Protocol;

- cooperating with neighbors in the effective prevention and
prosecution of all illegal cross-border activities, in
particular those that support terrorism and organized crime
and endanger regional security.

The Conference should lay the foundations for a regional
program of confidence building measures aimed at promoting
mutual trust and dispel concerns on Iraq, including:

- exchange of security information among neighboring
countries;

- reassurances on the temporary nature of the stationing of
foreign forces, as a component of the stabilization process.

Within this framework, the possibility of establishing on a
non-discriminatory basis, a quote Group of Friends of Iraq
unquote, to accompany and support progress in political
transition and good-neighborliness, may be explored, having
regard to the need to preserve Iraqi ownership.

A follow-up international meeting, before the June 2005 MNF
mandate review should be considered.

End text.

Baghdad Minimize Considered

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2004ROME04216 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL