IRAQ: ITALIAN SENATE APPROVES CONTINUED FUNDING

UNCLAS ROME 000537

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS MARR IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: IRAQ: ITALIAN SENATE APPROVES CONTINUED FUNDING
FOR IRAQ MILITARY MISSION

REF: 04 ROME 2947


1. SUMMARY: The Italian Senate has approved funding for
Italy's continued military mission in Iraq. We expect the
Chamber to follow suit when the measure is scheduled for a
vote in the lower house in the coming weeks. END SUMMARY.


2. On February 16, the Italian Senate approved financing
for the Italian military mission in Iraq through June 30,
2005, by a vote of 141 in favor, 112 against. (Funding for
missions abroad is always granted in six-month increments.)
The center-right governing coalition was joined in
supporting the measure by the small Union of Democrats of
Europe (UDEUR),a not-overly-dedicated member of the center-
left opposition. The remainder of the opposition voted
against. Minister for Reforms Calderoli (Northern League)
speculated that the release of a video showing Italian
hostage Giuliana Sgrena in tears begging for help
-- broadcast shortly before the vote -- may have been
intended to influence the vote.


3. The Chamber of Deputies must still approve the decree
before it becomes law. While no date has yet been set for
Chamber debate, that vote is also expected to pass, given
the Government's support for the Iraq mission and its
majority in Parliament.


4. The center-left opposition coalition led by Romano Prodi
decided on February 10 to vote against the Iraq funding
decree. Until that decision was taken, some centrists in
the opposition, including Daisy coalition leader Francesco
Rutelli, strongly questioned whether the center-left could
continue to oppose Italian involvement in Iraq in the wake
of the Iraqi elections and UNSYG Kofi Annan's recently
renewed call for international support for Iraq. In the
end, however, the opposition called on the Government to
promote a special meeting of the EU Council to develop an EU
strategy to consolidate democracy in Iraq, form an inclusive
representational government, and adopt a constitution "that
protects the rights of all the components of Iraqi society."
The left also demanded that the Security Council request a
"change in mandate and an end to foreign military presence"
in Iraq.


5. PM Berlusconi took the unusual step of addressing the
Senate on February 15 to open debate on the measure.
Berlusconi firmly supported the decree and Italy's continued
mission in Iraq until the Iraqi government "feels itself to
be secure." He called on moderate members of the opposition
to "find the courage to vote in favor of our soldiers in
Iraq", and asked rhetorically: "How can it be that the
opposition, which invoked strong UN involvement for so long,
will vote for the withdrawal of our troops now that the
strategy the UN established is taking shape and having
success?"


6. Baghdad minimize considered.
SEMBLER


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2005ROME00537 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED