Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME77
2004-01-09 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY POISED TO CONTRIBUTE PRT FOR GHAZNI

Tags:  MOPS MASS AF IT AFGHANISTAN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000077 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2014
TAGS: MOPS MASS AF IT AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: ITALY POISED TO CONTRIBUTE PRT FOR GHAZNI

REF: A. 03 STATE 303817

B. 03 ROME 5320

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5(B)(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000077

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2014
TAGS: MOPS MASS AF IT AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: ITALY POISED TO CONTRIBUTE PRT FOR GHAZNI

REF: A. 03 STATE 303817

B. 03 ROME 5320

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO
NS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ITALY IS LIKELY TO
STAND-UP A PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM (PRT) TO COVER
PARTS OF GHAZNI PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO MOD AND MFA CONTACTS,
BUT WOULD PREFER TO DO SO UNDER NATO COMMAND. ITALY WOULD
LIKE USG INPUT (AND WILL SEEK NATO/SHAPE INPUT AS WELL) ON
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN ITALIAN PRT COULD OPERATE UNDER NATO
COMMAND, PERHAPS WITH INTERIM SUPPORT FROM OEF FORCES, BEFORE
ISSUING A FINAL RESPONSE TO REFTEL A REQUEST. SELLING THE
CONCEPT TO PARLIAMENT WILL BE CONSIDERABLY EASIER IF THE PRT
IS UNDER NATO RATHER THAN OEF COMMAND, HOWEVER, ITALY DOES
NOT WANT TO UNNECESSARILY DELAY MOVING FORWARD WITH A PRT.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) A JOINT MOD/MFA REPORT ON A DECEMBER INTERAGENCY TRIP
TO AFGHANISTAN TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRIBUTING A
PRT CONCLUDED THAT ITALY CAN STAND-UP A PRT TO COVER PARTS OF
GHAZNI PROVINCE, ACCORDING TO FRANCESCO TRUPIANO, DIPLOMATIC
ADVISOR TO DEFMIN ANTONIO MARTINO. THIS TRACKS WITH OUR
RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH MFA NATO AFFAIRS OFFICE DIRECTOR
GIOVANNI BRAUZZI AND REAR ADMIRAL CLAUDIO DEPOLO, DEPUTY
COMMANDER OF ITALY'S JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND, ALTHOUGH EACH
INDICATED SOME CONTINUING DEBATE OVER THE PRT'S LOCATION.
TRUPIANO SAID MARTINO, WHO HAS LONG SUPPORTED GREATER NATO
RESPONSIBILITY IN AFGHANISTAN, HAS BEEN URGED BY BOTH THE
FORMER AND CURRENT NATO SECRETARY GENERALS TO PUSH THE PRT
CONCEPT WITHIN NATO, AND WOULD LIKE TO USE THE ITALIAN PRT TO
MOVE THE DEBATE ON NATO'S ROLE ALONG. IT WILL ALSO BE EASIER
TO GET PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT FOR A PRT OPERATING UNDER NATO
VICE OEF COMMAND, TRUPIANO NOTED.

3, (C) BEFORE ISSUING AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO OUR REQUEST,
TRUPIANO SAID ITALY WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE WITH THE USG, NATO
AND SHAPE THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING UP SHOP IN GHAZNI UNDER
NATO. TRUPIANO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NATO MAY NOT BE READY TO
PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT TO THE PRT. IN FACT, THE ISAF COMMANDER
IN KABUL TOLD THE VISITING INTERAGENCY TEAM THAT ISAF IS
DEFINITELY NOT READY TO ASSUME GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES YET.
TRUPIANO QUERIED WHETHER PERHAPS OEF WOULD BE WILLING TO
PROVIDE INTERIM ASSISTANCE. ITALY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE
COMMAND ISSUE RESOLVED AND THE PRT ON ITS WAY BY THE JUNE
NATO SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL. IT WOULD SERVE AS A CONCRETE
EXAMPLE OF THE GREATER ROLE NATO IS PREPARED TO PLAY IN
AFGHANISTAN, TRUPIANO SAID.


4. (U) KABUL MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.
SKODON

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2004ROME00077 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL