ITALIAN VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 22 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 004444

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2014
TAGS: PREL IT EUN
SUBJECT: ITALIAN VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 22 GAERC

REF: A) STATE 244333 B) ROME 4404 C) ROME 4375 D)
ROME 4431

Classified By: LAB/HR COUNSELOR CANDACE PUTNAM. REASON:1.4 (B)(D).

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MEPP
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1. (C) EU CFSP Director Luigi Mattiolo said that ministers
would have an extended discussion of Middle East issues over
lunch on November 22, including a wide-ranging exchange of
views on how the EU should enhance its role in the Quartet
post-Arafat. Italy's views on the content of the Council
statement are in line with those outlined ref a. Mattiolo
emphasized that his government would be looking to Israel to
capitalize on the opportunity represented by the change in
Palestinian leadership. The Quartet must send clear,
balanced signals to the region, including a call for the new
Palestinian leadership to renounce terrorism and for all
parties to follow the Roadmap. See ref b for further detail
on Italy's views on the MEPP. Mattiolo added that donations
to the Private Enterprise Partnership will be discussed in
detail at the Euro-Med Conference on November 29. Italy will
support a "generous" EU donation.

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Turkey
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2. (SBU) Mattiolo noted that Turkey is not on the agenda.
See ref c for details on Italian thinking on the Turkish
accession issue.

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ESDP
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3. (C) Italy is very pleased with progress thus far on the
SFOR-EU/Althea handover. Defense Ministers will meet
separately over lunch to discuss next steps and preparations
for the December 2 ceremony in Sarajevo. Looking forward,
Italy will continue to underline the importance of Berlin
plus arrangements, particularly as they relate to
Battlegroups and the NRF, since Italy will participate
actively in both.

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China Arms
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4. (C) Mattiolo reiterated his view that there was no chance
that the embargo would be lifted prior to the EU-China Summit
on December 8. The Council and Summit statements would
likely indicate that discussions would continue during the
Luxembourg presidency, without an definite end date for
lifting the embargo. Italy will also support references to
the need for Beijing to accelerate progress on human rights
as a condition for any consideration of lifting the embargo.

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Belarus
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5. (C) Italy shares US concerns over the flawed October 17
elections and the general human rights situation in general
in Belarus. The draft Council statement is "almost completed
and agreed," and sends a strong message to the regime in
Minsk to conform with international standards on human
rights. Member states were therefore inclined to remove
discussion of Belarus from the agenda, however, Poland has
requested that ministers discuss Belarus so that the EU can
note the importance of reaching out to civil society groups
and NGOs, in line with ref a points.

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Cyprus
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6. (SBU) Mattiolo said that discussion of Cyprus was dropped
from the agenda. See ref d for Italy's views on increasing
Voluntary Contributions.


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2004ROME04444 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL