IRAQ: ITALY URGES MORE EU INVOLVEMENT, PLEDGES TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004263

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR IZ IT NATO IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: IRAQ: ITALY URGES MORE EU INVOLVEMENT, PLEDGES TO
STAY THE COURSE, IN MEETING WITH PM ALLAWI

REF: ROME 4216

Classified By: POL M/C Tom Countryman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. In their November 4 meeting in Rome, and on
the eve of Iraqi PM Allawi's Brussels meeting with EU
leaders, Italian PM Berlusconi and his Iraqi counterpart held
a friendly meeting in which they discussed the current
situation in Iraq and strategies for securing greater EU and
other involvement in the stabilization process. Berlusconi
reiterated Italy's pledge to maintain its troops on the
ground as long as the Iraqi government requested and stressed
the need to get the word out regarding positive developments
in Iraq. Allawi, who was accompanied by a delegation of
primarily economic ministers, also met with Defense Minister
Martino, Minister of Productive Activities Marzano, Pope John
Paul II, and members of the Italian business community. End
summary.


2. (C) PolOff spoke with PM Berlusconi Diplomatic Advisor
Franceso Talo on November 4. Talo, who sat in on the
November 4 meeting between Iraqi FM Allawi and Berlusconi,
described the nearly one-hour meeting as cordial and very
positive. (Note: Allawi's dinner with FM Frattini scheduled
for the night before was canceled due to the Iraqi
delegation's late arrival). Talo said most of what was
discussed privately was echoed in public press statements,
and that both leaders were eager to get out the good news
story on Iraq in order to garner more support for
reconstruction efforts.


3. (C) According to Talo, both sides expressed appreciation
for the other's efforts in Iraqi reconstruction and
stabilization, as well as their conviction of the need to
hold elections in January. In response to Berlusconi's
inquiry regarding the state of the security situation and
reconstructin efforts, Allawi said there were positive and
negative developments, acknowledging that security is the
number one problem, especially terrorism. He emphasized,
however, that the terrorists are coming from outside Iraq and
that the IIG has had some success in combating them.
Furthermore, Allawi said, the IIG is treating the terrorism
issue in the broader context of the global war on terror
rather than as an internal issue. In the civil sector,
Allawi cited several improvements, such as 14 hours a day of
electricity and the opening of more hospitals.


4. (C) Allawi reportedly emphasized the need to present a
realistic assessment of the situation in Iraq, but overall
was quite optimistic, especially in view of his November 5
breakfast with EU leaders in Brussels. Berlusconi said it
was important to present an optimistic outlook at this
meeting in order to secure increased EU involvement in Iraq.
Otherwise, he warned, countries such as France would have
more ammunition to argue against EU involvement, citing a
hopeless situation, which would only perpetuate the vicious
circle. Berlusconi added that Allawi should make clear that
the old phase was over and a new, positive, one was beginning
in which we should be realistic but look forward.
Furthermore, he said, the EU should play a more important
role, "getting its hands dirty" in both security and civil
aspects of rebuilding Iraq, which would also lead to eventual
US disengagement.


5. (C) Note: The EU currently is discussing the possibility
of forming a civilian, possibly ESDP, police-training mission
for Iraq and recently sent a team to explore options. Talo
did not know where this initiative stands, but said certain
countries (the same ones that are being reticent in NATO,
i.e., France, Germany, Belgium, etc.) are reluctant to get
involved on the ground. End note.


6. (C) Talo said that Allawi asked why the EU was involved in
the Balkans and other areas but not in Iraq. Berlusconi
replied that he had used the same argument with his EU
counterparts, noting that in Iraq, like other areas, there is
a UN resolution that legitimizes EU actions. He added that
Italy wants to help countries with reconstruction efforts and
that it would stay in Iraq as long as the Iraqi government


wanted it to. It is important, he stressed, to make it clear
to others and to the public that we are on the right track.


7. (C) Berlusconi reportedly told Allawi that, during the
November 2-3 Italo-Russian summit in Moscow, he had spoken
with Putin about the upcoming international conference in
Sharm-el-Sheik (Note: Talo noted that the conference was
originally Putin's idea). Berlusconi stressed to his Russian
counterpart the need to involve more countries in Iraq from
the G-8, EU, and elsewhere. Talo said that the two leaders
did not/not discuss the Italian non-paper reported in reftel.


8. (C) Finally, Talo said that Berlusconi told Allawi that
Italy is ahead of other countries in forgiving Iraqi debt and
is trying to convince France and Germany to meet IMF
recommendations for debt forgiveness.


9. (U) In press statements, Berlusconi was quoted as saying
it was Italy's duty as the world's sixth-largest economic
power to "shoulder the burden of defending democracy and
spreading it in the world." As in Afghanistan, Kosovo,
Albania, and Macedonia, Berlusconi said there is "an Italian
presence for peace" in Iraq. In his statements, Allawi
reconfirmed Iraq's intent to hold elections in January,
saying the Iraqi government is determined to defeat the
terrorists and to prevent anyone from holding back the peace
process. He invited countries that had opposed the war in
Iraq to "forget the past" and "develop political and economic
relations" with Iraq based on "mutual interest." Minister of
Productive Activities Marzano in press statements following
his meeting with Allawi, said that he spoke to Allawi about
the numerous projects in which the Italians are already
involved. Noting that the Iraqi government pays special
attention to countries that sent military troops, Marzano
said that Iraq would soon have its own funds through which
donor countries and Italian businesses could get involved in
reconstruction projects.

BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED


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2004ROME04263 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL