ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION REMAINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004375

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE, EUR/SE AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2014
TAGS: PREL TU IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION REMAINS
STRONG AND UNCONDITIONAL - GREECE/CYPRUS AND FRANCE ARE
MAIN ROADBLOCKS TO EARLY DATE

REF: STATE 240286

Classified By: POL MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN. REASON: 1.5 (b)(
d)

1 (C) MFA Turkey/Cyprus Office Director Renato Ricci
reiterated to poloff Italy's strong support for a December 17
EU Council decision specifying an unconditional and early
date to begin Turkish accession negotiations. While there is
an internal government and popular debate within Italy on
Turkey's suitability to join the EU, the government's
position is firm. Ricci noted especially the right wing
coalition partner Lega Nord (Northern League) opposition, but
predicted "the Prime Minister will stand his ground" on
Turkey. (Comment: There is nothing to suggest that DPM Fini,
if appointed FM as expected, would seek to weaken this
stance.) Pol Min was also informed that, in an effort to
help Turkey's image with the EU population in general, the
Italian think tank Institute for Foreign Affairs (IAI) will
sponsor a series of seminars bringing together Turkish and
European policy makers. The first of these will be on
November 24 in Rome.


2. (C) Ricci predicted the two major stumbling blocks between
now and December 17 will be Greece/Cyprus and France. "The
key to Nicosia is Athens," Ricci said. EU members must
insist that Athens uses its overwhelming influence with the
government in Nicosia to do the right thing on December 17.
Ricci worried that France was a harder and more complicated
issue. The internal government debate in Paris and strong
popular opinion was pointing towards, at best, an agreement
to Turkish accession with strong conditions and long lead
time for beginning negotiations. At worst, Ricci warned,
Nicosia could join on French coattails to delay outright the
decision on accession. "This would be a disaster for
relations between Ankara and the West."


3. (C) In response to Poloff's offer of US help, Ricci said
that Washington's most valuable contribution would be to use
its good relations with Turkey to keep Ankara calm in the
run-up to the Council meeting. "No accidental overflights,
no inflammatory statements." Ricci said that Ankara should
keep a low profile and allow its friends, including Italy, to
fight its battles in Brussels. Ricci understood that
US-Greek relations, particularly after recognition of
"Macedonia," were not as close, but he suggested that the US
should use whatever influence it had with Athens to dissuade
officials from teaming with any Cypriot effort to derail
Turkish accession. As for France, Ricci opined that any US
intervention or attempt to persuade would likely backfire.
Whatever the US decides to do, Ricci concluded, it should be
"focused and quiet."


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2004ROME04375 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL