TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FURTHER ITALY RESPONSE

UNCLAS ROME 001852 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE EB/TPP/IPE FOR WILSON STATE PASS USTR FOR RONALD MEYERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR IT SUBJECT: TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FURTHER ITALY RESPONSE REF: A. SECSTATE 97995 ¶B. ROME 1828 (SBU) Deputy Director General for Economic and Financial Cooperation at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Massimo Leggeri, told us May 31 that he had transmitted a copy of ref A points to the Italian missions in Brussels and Geneva. Leggeri said he plans to confer with his colleagues in those two delegations before agreeing to a phone call with Assistant USTR Espinel. Leggeri offered no further insights into Italy's stance other than to say this was a "European issue" and that the EU will forward its ultimate decision to Geneva. We hope to schedule the conference call by June 1 or ¶2. SEMBLER NNNN 2005ROME01852 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED