TFUS01: AMBASSADOR THANKS ITALY IN HIGH-LEVEL

UNCLAS ROME 003096

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL AEMR OPRC IT
SUBJECT: TFUS01: AMBASSADOR THANKS ITALY IN HIGH-LEVEL
MEDIA EVENT

Sensitive but Unclassified, not for Internet publication.


1. (U) Summary: Ambassador Spogli publicly thanked Italy for
its hurricane Katrina relief during a September 9 visit to
Italy's Department of Civil Protection. In an unexpected
move, Prime Minister Berlusconi, Defense Minister Antonio
Martino, and many other top-level officials also attended the
event. End summary.


2. (U) Ambassador Spogli visited the headquarters of the
Department of Civil Protection--Italy's FEMA-equivalent and
the main coordinator of Italy's aid flight to Little
Rock--September 9 to publicly thank the GOI and the Italian
people for their support in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
The event included a photo op with the crew of the C-130 who
delivered the relief supplies and a tour, led by Civil
Protection Director Guido Bertolaso, of the Department's
ultra-modern command center in the outskirts of Rome. At the
end of his visit, the Ambassador made a statement of thanks
in Italian to a large assembly of local and international
journalists.


3. (U) Although this event was originally planned as a simple
thank-you call on Director Bertolaso, it quickly took on much
greater significance. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi,
Defense Minister Antonio Martino, and other top-level
officials joined in and their presence helped draw even more
attention to the Ambassador's words of gratitude.


4. (U) In his remarks, the Ambassador thanked the Department
of Civil Protection, the Italian Red Cross, and the Italian
Air Force (Air Force Chief of Staff Leonardo Tricarico also
attended) for their direct role in arranging the flight. He
also extended thanks to the many Italian citizens who have
made donations to the Red Cross and other relief
organizations. Berlusconi spoke at length and emphasized
that Italy was prepared to provide additional disaster
relief, if needed. The Prime Minister also made reference to
the United States' assistance to Italy during the post-war
period.


5. (SBU) All major Italian TV newscasts covered the event the
same day by headlining the U.S. expression of appreciation.
Next-day coverage in major dailies was dominated by
Berlusconi's and Letta's statements and by analysis of the
presence of Italian Red Cross Director Maurizio Scelli, a
Berlusconi protege who was publicly rehabilitated at the
event after embarrassing the government with revelations
about Iraq hostage negotiations and ransoming.


6. (SBU) Comment: We were pleasantly surprised by the
high-level of attention the Ambassador's thank-you visit
received, even at a time when Katrina was fading from Italian
headlines. Having endured much criticism for his support of
the United States, particularly in Iraq, Berlusconi seemed
eager to participate in an essentially non-political
"feel-good" event that emphasized the historic friendship and
good will between the United States and Italy. End comment.
SPOGLI


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2005ROME03096 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED