PSI: ITALY STUDYING SUA AMENDMENTS

UNCLAS ROME 000688 SIPDIS STATE FOR T, NP/.RA, NEA AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT PREL PARM MNUC KNNP IT MARITIME SUBJECT: PSI: ITALY STUDYING SUA AMENDMENTS REF: STATE 17357 (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶2. EMBASSY OFFICERS PRESENTED REFTEL POINTS TO OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT, STRESSING THE NEED TO AMEND THE SUPPRESION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION (SUA) CONVENTION TO CRIMINALIZE WMD TRANSPORT. ¶3. TRANSPORT MINISTRY DIRECTOR FOR MARITIME AFFAIRS, COSIMO CALIENDO, TOLD SCIENCE COUNSELOR FEBRUARY 17 THAT ITALY FULLY SUPPORTED THE GOAL OF THE U.S. EFFORT. HOWEVER, HE ADDED, IT WAS NECESSARY TO FIND A WAY TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL WITH THE LEAST NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE MARITIME SECTOR. EXPERTS FROM THE MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT WERE STILL STUDYING THE PROPOSAL AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT. SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME00688 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED