IRAQ: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL

UNCLAS ROME 001456 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS IZ IT UNSC IRAQI FREEDOM SUBJECT: IRAQ: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT REF: STATE 79107 ¶1. (U) PolOff delivered reftel points to MFA Deputy Iraq Task Force Director Damiano Francovigh. The MFA had already issued a statement on the formation of the Iraq Transitional Government. An informal translation of the statement is provided below. ¶2. (U) Begin text. The expected confidence vote of the Iraqi parliament for the transitional government formed by Ibrahim Ja'afari was registered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with great appreciation, in that -- underscored Minister Fini -- the Iraqi people, for the first time in decades, will finally be led by a legitimate, representative, and democratically elected government. Iraq has now completed the important phase of perfecting its institutions. Now the list of ministers needs to be completed as soon as possible, based on the principle of inclusion, and then immediately the drafting of the constitutional charter, in view of the close deadlines, in which the union and collaboration on the part of all Iraqis will have a hand. In formulating his best wishes for good and successful work to the confirmed FM Zebari, Minister Fini underlined that the new executive could rely on the concrete and enduring support of the Italian government. Iraq, he added, knows it can also count on the cooperation of the international community, and Italy will continue to engage in the upcoming weeks to strengthen the unity of intentions that is necessary in Europe and on the transatlantic front to complete the path of liberty and independence of the country. End text. BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED SEMBLER NNNN 2005ROME01456 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED