Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME969
2004-03-11 16:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY: FUNDS FOR MILITARY MISSIONS ABROAD APPROVED

Tags:  MARR PREL PGOV MOPS EAID MCAP IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM 
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UNCLAS ROME 000969 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV MOPS EAID MCAP IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY: FUNDS FOR MILITARY MISSIONS ABROAD APPROVED

REFTELS: (A) ROME 638, (B) ROME 936

UNCLAS ROME 000969

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV MOPS EAID MCAP IZ IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY: FUNDS FOR MILITARY MISSIONS ABROAD APPROVED

REFTELS: (A) ROME 638, (B) ROME 936


1. AS EXPECTED, THE ITALIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES MARCH 10
APPROVED EXTENDING UNTIL JUNE 30, 2004, FUNDING FOR ITALY'S
PARTICIPATION IN ALL ITS MILITARY MISSIONS ABROAD,
INCLUDING IRAQ (REF. B). THE CHAMBER DID NOT MAKE ANY
AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE SENATE ON
FEBRUARY 18 (REF. A). THE VOTE IS THEREFORE FINAL AND THE
DECREE IS NOW LAW.


2. THE CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNING MAJORITY VOTED IN FAVOR (281
AYES),WHILE THE CENTER-LEFT SPLIT IN THREE CHUNKS. THE
NAYS WERE 64, AND INCLUDED THE GREENS, COMMUNIST RENEWAL
(RC),AND THE ITALIAN COMMUNISTS (PDCI),AS WELL AS 39 FROM
THE LEADING OPPOSITION DEMOCRATS OF THE LEFT (DS) -- MORE
THAN JUST THE DS' LEFT-WING "CORRENTONE" -- AND ONE FROM
THE DAISY. TWELVE CENTER-LEFT PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM
MASTELLA'S UNION OF DEMOCRATS FOR EUROPE (UDEUR) AND FROM
LOCAL AUTONOMY PARTIES ABSTAINED. THE REST OF THE DS,
TOGETHER WITH THE ITALIAN SOCIALISTS (SDI),AND THE BULK OF
DAISY PARTY MEMBERS DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTE.


3. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION CHAMBER PRESIDENT
CASINI EXPRESSED THE CHAMBER'S HEART-FELT THANKS TO THE
MILITARY DEPLOYED ABROAD AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY
UNDERSCORED HIS WORDS WITH APPLAUSE. THIS NOTWITHSTANDING,
MOD UNDER SECRETARY CICU REGRETTED PARLIAMENT WAS NOT
UNITED BEHIND THE TROOPS AND MOD MARTINO REMARKED THAT THE
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE OPPOSITION AND ITS LACK OF SUPPORT FOR
THE TROOPS WERE A "DARK PAGE" FOR ITALY'S DEMOCRACY.
GREENS LEADER PECORARO SCANIO SAID INSTEAD THAT THE "DARK
PAGE" WAS THE LACK OF UNITY WITHIN THE CENTER-LEFT. GINO
STRADA, A PACIFIST ICON IN ITALY AND CHIEF OF THE NGO
"EMERGENCY," COMMENTED THAT THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE AGAINST
WERE "POLITICAL DELINQUENTS," CAUSING DS LEADER FASSINO --
ALREADY IRRITATED BY HIS COALITIONS' DIVISIONS -- TO SEND
HIM "TO HELL."


4. CPA BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.

SEMBLER

NNNN
2004ROME00969 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED