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