OPERATION BALKAN VICE V - ITALY ON BOARD WITH VISA

S E C R E T ROME 004793

SIPDIS


NOFORN

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE , S/WCI, TREASURY FOR OFAC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014
TAGS: PREL MOPS EFIN ETTC KAWC BK IT ICTY EUN
SUBJECT: OPERATION BALKAN VICE V - ITALY ON BOARD WITH VISA
BAN, WILL WORK WITH EU PARTNERS ON ASSET FREEZE

REF: STATE 267711

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


1. (S) MFA Balkans Office Director Andrea Orizio told Poloff
on December 17 that Italy was "on board" with USG view that
imposing travel entry/travel bans and freezing assets of
PIFWC's and their material supporters are important tools for
achieving our shared objective to stabilize the region.
Implementing travel restrictions on the individuals named in
reftel would pose little problem, he said, and promised to
transmit the list to appropriate border and immigration
authorities.


2. (S) Orizio thought that procedures put in place in
response to previous "Balkan Vice" operations should make the
asset freeze/block portion of the request fairly
straightforward to implement. He warned, however that a
number of EU member states may continue to hesitate at
freezing assets of PIFWC supporters without criminal or civil
proceedings. Orizio promised that Italy would do what it
could to sway its EU partners. He will also distribute the
points to appropriate consular and economic offices within
the MFA.


3. (U) Post will report septel on Ministry of Finance and
financial institution responses to reftel points.


SEMBLER


NNNN
2004ROME04793 - Classification: SECRET