Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ROME3765
2005-11-15 10:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY ON SUDAN AND SOMALIA

Tags:  PREL PGOV SO SU IT HUMAN RIGHTS 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003765 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO SU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY ON SUDAN AND SOMALIA

REF: STATE 205787

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce, reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003765

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO SU IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY ON SUDAN AND SOMALIA

REF: STATE 205787

Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce, reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Italian MFA U/S Mantica will travel to Sudan
November 16-21, making stops in Khartoum, Darfur, and Juba.
Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
will be at the top of the agenda. Italy is pleased with its
seat on the Sudanese Assessment and Evaluation Commission
(AEC),which it views as recognition for its close
involvement in the peace process. In Somalia, MFA believes
PM Gedi is the only one in the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFI) who has shown "a commitment to solve
Somalia's problems." Italy feels the "time has come to be
more vocal in appreciating Gedi's initiative" and the MFA
believes the EU may release a statement to that effect soon.
Italy will ask Gedi to continue in his efforts when he meets
with FM Fini in Rome November 15. MFA officials expressed
concern that Somalia was becoming more and more
fundamentalist, and a significant radicalizing factor has
been aid, especially in the education sector, from Muslim
NGOs. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
Sudan: A Seat on the AEC Recognition for Involvement
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Poloff had introductory meetings with MFA Office
Director for East Africa Fabrizio Pignatelli and MFA Somalia
Office Director Giancarlo Izzo November 10 to discuss Italian
involvement in the Horn of Africa.


3. (C) Prior to the meeting, Pignatelli had expressed
confusion over the U.S. decision to renew sanctions against
Sudan, pointing to what Italy had viewed as conciliatory
moves coming recently from Washington. Poloff responded that
we needed to see results in Sudan, including progress on the
implementation of the CPA, a solution to the Darfur crisis,
and greater respect for human rights before the United States
would consider a policy change. We would continue to work
closely with all parties in support of these goals.


4. (C) Italy viewed the recent formation of the AEC as a very
positive step, according to Pignatelli, who stressed the
importance of the AEC for success in implementing the CPA.
He noted that Italy was pleased to have contributed to the

formation of the committee through the joint U.S.-EU
demarche. Italy has followed closely all of the peace
process negotiations, Pignatelli said, and the Sudanese
government had recognized the significant Italian involvement
in negotiations by allotting Italy a seat on the AEC.
Pignatelli noted this move came in spite of the fact that
Italy was not one of the main assistance donors.


5. (C) Poloff presented Pignatelli a copy of U/S Zoellick's
November 9 speech outlining U.S. policy in Sudan (reftel) and
noted the main points of the speech. Pignatelli responded
that the United States and Italy share common interests in
the region, including continued implementation of the CPA and
a need to see progress on the Darfur talks. Pignatelli
expressed a desire to coordinate closely with U.S. efforts,
especially on the most critical initiatives relating to the
CPA and Darfur.


6. (C) Italian MFA U/S Mantica will travel to Sudan November
16-21, making stops in Khartoum, Darfur (to observe Italian
humanitarian assistance operations),and Juba.
Implementation of the CPA will be at the top of the agenda
when he meets with President Al-Bashir, First Vice President
Kiir, Vice President Taha, and Foreign Minister Ismail.

--------------
Somalia: "We have to start to take sides"
--------------


7. (C) Italy is supporting TFI PM Gedi, according to Izzo,
"because it's the only thing on the table." From the Italian
point of view, Gedi is the only one in the TFI who has shown
"a commitment to solve Somalia's problems." He cited the
recent meeting with members of parliament as an example of
Gedi's initiative. Izzo reported that the EU is coming
around to this point of view and increasingly speaking out in
support of Gedi. He noted that, while the United States
seems not to want to take sides, "lots of other European
countries are starting to believe Gedi is the man to
support." Izzo stated that the "time has come to be more
vocal in appreciating Gedi's initiative" and he believed the
EU would release a statement to that effect soon. "We have
to start to take sides" was his assessment.


8. (C) Izzo said the Mogadishu-based ministers have not taken
any initiative and "just say 'no'" to every proposal. The
peace process has already taken too long, and, given the two
assassination attempts on Gedi, the GOI feels it is wrong to
wait any longer. Observing that the parliament was important
to the building of a new state, Izzo criticized Speaker of
Parliament Hassan for failing to use his prerogative to have
the parliament meet somewhere--anywhere. Although Gedi's
efforts have not produced significant results, Izzo stated
that "we'll invite him to try again" when he meets with FM
Fini November 15. He predicted that Gedi's response would
probably be that he needs more time to erode Hassan's power.


9. (C) Izzo expressed concern that Somalia was becoming more
and more fundamentalist. Most aid, especially in the
education sector, comes from Muslim NGOs. Koranic schools
are slowly converting Somalia's more traditional Islam into
fundamentalism. The population turns to radical NGOs for
basic needs like education and medicine because there is no
other choice.

--------------
Comment
--------------


10. (C) U/S Mantica's visit reflects Italy's continued
commitment to the Sudan peace process and strong interest in
stability in the Horn of Africa. Rome shares our policy
approach on Sudan and is keen to coordinate with U.S.
efforts. On Somalia, the MFA made a pitch for supporting
Gedi more, indicating that it would be pressing to garner
support within the EU for the Somali PM.
SPOGLI