ITALY DEFERS TO EU ON ALEMAN, BOLIVIA SUPPORT GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003669 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2015 TAGS: PGOV KCRM BL IT EUN SUBJECT: ITALY DEFERS TO EU ON ALEMAN, BOLIVIA SUPPORT GROUP REF: A. STATE 197220 ¶B. STATE 192336 Classified By: PolMil Counselor Jonathan Cohen for reason 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Italy will defer to EU policies on denying safe haven to Jose Aleman (reftel A),and endorsing the Bolivia Support Group message (reftel B),according to MFA officials. Italy shares U.S. concerns about the political developments in Nicaragua, but is encouraged by what it sees as the beginning of a dialogue between President Bolanos and FSLN leader Ortega. Italy had no substantive objection to the wording of the Bolivia Support Group message. End Summary. -------------- Aleman -------------- ¶2. (C) Poloff met with MFA Office Director for Central America and the Caribbean Paolo Miraglia October 31 to discuss denying safe haven to former president of Nicaragua Jose Aleman. While Miraglia agreed that Aleman should disengage from politics and shared U.S. concerns about Nicaragua's political situation, the GOI is not prepared to take unilateral measures to deny Aleman safe haven in Italy, preferring to follow the EU common policy. Miraglia welcomed what Italy views as recent positive developments in Nicaragua, including the appointment of a new vice president, the ratification of CAFTA, and the postponement of constitutional reform until after the 2007 election. He also commented that Deputy Secretary Zoellick's visit to Nicaragua was a "push in the right direction." Italy looks favorably on the increase in dialogue among key political actors in Managua. Miraglia said Italy would be watching to see how these "encouraging signals" develop in the next few weeks. ¶3. (C) The EU Latin America Working Group will convene again in November (the last meeting was October 2004),but Miraglia was unsure if Nicaragua would be on the agenda. He noted that the issue of denying safe haven was discussed last year. Miraglia admitted that there was no EU plan that would pressure Aleman to disengage from politics. -------------- Bolivia Support Group -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On a separate occasion, Poloff discussed the Bolivia Support Group message with MFA South America Desk Officer Piero Bernassi. According to Bernassi, Italy was in complete agreement with the substance and wording of the statement. However, Italy sees this as an issue to be dealt with through the EU. SPOGLI