IRAQ/ITALY: ACCIDENTAL KILLING IN BAGHDAD,

S E C R E T ROME 000781

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR S, D, P, NEA AND EUR;
OSD FOR DEPSECDEF WOLFOWITZ AND USDP FEITH;
CENTCOM FOR GEN. ABIZAID;
BAGHDAD FOR AMB. NEGROPONTE AND GEN. CASEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS IT IZ IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: IRAQ/ITALY: ACCIDENTAL KILLING IN BAGHDAD,
BERLUSCONI PROPOSES JOINT COMMISSION, AGREES TO JOINT
INVESTIGATION

REF: A. ROME 757 (NOTAL)

B. ROME 751 (NOTAL)

C. BAGHDAD 1005

D. BAGHDAD 965

Classified By: Ambassador Mel Sembler, reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (S) SUMMARY: In the last 24 hours PM Berlusconi has
pressed hard for the establishment of some mechanism to show
that Italy was an active participant in the investigation
into the killing of Italian intel officer Nicola Calipari by
US forces near Baghdad, which he could use to calm criticism
of the USG and his government when he appears before
Parliament on March 9. On March 7, Berlusconi proposed to
the Ambassador that the US and Italy establish a joint
commission to draw appropriate conclusions from the
investigation underway. On March 8, Ambassador conveyed an
invitation to the Government of Italy to participate in the
investigation being launched by MNF-I, noting that while we
were not offering a joint commission at this time, we were
offering full participation and access to information in the
MNF-I investigation in a spirit of cooperation and
transparency. Berlusconi accepted the invitation and
released a press statement (at para 9) announcing Italian
participation later that afternoon. He will follow up his
announcement with a presentation to the Italian Senate on
March 9. End Summary.

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Italy Proposes Joint Commission
--------------


2. (S) The evening of March 7, the day of Italian agent
Nicola Calipari's funeral, PM Berlusconi asked Amb. Sembler
(accompanied by DCM, POL-MC, Pol-MilCouns) to meet with him
at Palazzo Chigi. The PM was joined by U/S Letta, FM Fini,
SISMI chief Pollari and others.


3. (S) Letta proposed that the US and Italy announce that
they would establish a joint commission to assess the March 4
Baghdad incident which resulted in the death of SISMI officer
Calipari. This would be a signal to the public that both
sides were committed to searching for the truth and would put
an end to the anti-US polemics being fostered by the Italian
opposition. Berlusconi implored us to get approval quickly
so he could announced it when he appears before the Senate on
Wednesday, March 9 to discuss the incident. From a political
point of view, he said, this would be the best way to defuse
public anger and to prevent political exploitation of the
incident. The important qualities would be that it be joint,
official and transparent. We must be able to announce that
we are finding the truth together in our traditional spirit
of friendship and cooperation, Letta said.


4. (S) Amb. Sembler noted that he had on Sunday recommended a
similar approach in messages to both Washington and Baghdad.
We explained (based on Ref D) that a formal request had
already initiated an investigation by MNF. This fact-finding
investigation would include Italian input. It did not
necessarily preclude the kind of joint commission that Letta
had described. Berlusconi asked Amb. Sembler to convey this
proposal to President Bush and the Ambassador agreed to do
so.


5. (S) On the way out, Berlusconi took the Ambassador aside
to say that this is an important political request from his
government to the USG. This was a tragic event, an accident,
but that we had to find the right way to avoid negative
political consequences so that we could continue our
important partnership in Iraq without hindrance. It did not
matter to him whether the joint commission was led by
military, or intelligence officers, or a combination. If
military, he said he would probably appoint Gen. Tricarico
(now ITAF Chief of Staff) to head the Italian side. The
details of mandate and composition were also not as
important, he said, as being able to announce this week that
there would be a joint commission. The details could be
worked out later.

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US Offers Participation in Investigation
--------------


6. (S) At mid-day March 8, we learned from Ref C that MNF-I
would be issuing a press release at 1630 Rome time noting
that Italian officials had been invited to participate in the
investigation to be led by BG Vangjel. The idea of a joint
commission had not yet been approved in Washington.
Ambassador was able to get a meeting with Letta at 1600,
again accompanied by DCM and Pol-MilCouns.


7. (S) Ambassador shared with Letta Ref C press release text,
noting that while we were not offering a joint commission, we
were doing what had been done initially in the case of the
Cavalese Cable Car investigation in 1998 and inviting Italian
participation into the military investigation. Ambassador
told Letta that Italy would have full access and be a full
participant, and that it would be up to the Italian
government to decide who would represent Italy in the
investigation. Details of Italian participation could be
worked out later. Letta said this was an acceptable idea and
immediately phoned PM Berlusconi, who also expressed his
acceptance of the invitation.


8. (S) Berlusconi requested that news of the Italian
participation in the investigation be released simultaneously
with his appearance in Parliament the next day. The
Ambassador explained that, unfortunately, the news was about
to be released by MNF-I and could not be pulled back at this
late moment. Berlusconi was concerned that the announcement
would be made so quickly in Baghdad and had his staff draft a
press statement (text at para 9) that was released at approx.
1645 local, to be nearly simultaneous with the release in
Baghdad. Letta also phoned FM Fini, DefMin Martino and Intel
Director Pollari while the Ambassador was in the room, all of
whom the Ambassador spoke with on the phone. All were
grateful and thought this to be an acceptable response to
their request for something joint, official and transparent
to be announced by Berlusconi in Parliament on Wednesday.
None returned to the idea of a joint commission. Berlusconi
will repeat the agreement to have Italian participation in
the investigation before the Senate March 9.


9. (U) Begin text of Italian Press Release (unofficial
Embassy translation):

The Government of the USA agreed to the request of PM Silvio
Berlusconi for Italian representatives to participate in the
investigation that MNF-I plans to launch to ascertain the
facts and the responsibilities in connection with the tragic
death of Dr. Nicola Calipari. This notification was
communicated in Rome to Prime Ministry Undersecretary Gianni
Letta by American Ambassador Mel Sembler and in Washington to
Italian Ambassador Sergio Vento. PM Berlusconi expressed the
satisfaction of the Italian government with this
investigation that will be led by General Vangjel and that
will be completed in the shortest time possible
(three-to-four weeks maximum).
End Text.

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COMMENT
--------------


10. (S) Berlusconi's request for a joint commission fell by
the wayside when we invited Italian participation in the
MNF-I investigation. We cannot guarantee that he won't
return to this idea at some point, but believe we have met
his immediate political need for something to bring before
Parliament on Wednesday that shows full US-Italian
cooperation on an equal basis in the investigation. End
Comment.


11. (U) Minimize considered.

SEMBLER


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2005ROME00781 - Classification: SECRET