IRAQ: ITALIANS WANT TO LEAD PRT, EVALUATING OTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000119 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA, EUR/WE AND S/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV IZ IT UNSC IRAQI FREEDOM SUBJECT: IRAQ: ITALIANS WANT TO LEAD PRT, EVALUATING OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS REF: ROME 4052 Classified By: POL MC David Pearce for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Italy would like to lead the PRT in Dhi Qar province, where it has considerable military and civilian experience. It sees this as a useful vehicle for an increasing focus on civilian activities as well as security training. Packaging the coalition's evolving role in Iraq in terms of capacity-building also would help the Italian government sell its continuing involvement in Iraq to a critical Italian public and make it less prone to criticism from the left. Italy is studying various security and development cooperation initiatives where, alone or with other coalition partners, it can make a major contribution. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In preparation for the January 19 trilateral meeting on Iraq between the US, Italy, and the UK, Pol MC and PolOff met with Francesco Talo' and Marco Carnelos, Diplomatic Advisors to PM Berlusconi, on January 10, and MFA Iraq Task Force Director Gherardo LaFrancesca and Desk Officer Stefano Stucci on January 11. The MFA also held a preparatory meeting with MOD officials on January 9 and separate discussions with the British Embassy in Rome. Italian PRT in Dhi Qar -------------- ¶3. (C) LaFrancesca stated clearly that Italy wants to lead a PRT in Dhi Qar province. Italy has substantial experience in Dhi Qar, he said; its military has been there for two years, and over the last few months the Italian civilian component has been growing. An Italian PRT would help demonstrate to the Italian public that Italy's presence in Iraq is evolving from a military to a civilian presence focused on capacity-building. The MFA is still studying the idea, he said, but hopes to propose a scheme that follows the general US architecture with an "Italian interpretation." Talo' stressed that the PRTs should not be seen as somehow walking back Iraqi sovereignty. Carabinieri Training/NATO Mission in Iraq -------------- ¶4. (C) Both the MFA and Chigi officials agreed on the importance of shifting the coalition's focus from military/defense activities to beefing up the Iraqi security forces. LaFrancesca said Italy hoped to have a precise answer soon on expanding Carabinieri training in Iraq, and that the MOD was taking a "positive approach." Noting the need for immediate training, LaFrancesca suggested that an expansion of the Carabinieri training at Camp Mittica -- possibly including other coalition partners -- would meet Iraqi needs most expeditiously, though the MOD also is considering future training in Italy. ¶5. (C) LaFrancesca said an expansion of the NATO training mission -- where Italy currently leads three out of four modules -- also might be feasible, but he deferred to the MFA's NATO office on this issue. (Note. There will be a separate bilateral meeting with MFA NATO Office Director Gianni Bardini immediately prior to the trilateral meetings on January 19 to discuss the NATO mission in more depth. End note.) The Chigi advisors noted that multilateral initiatives, such as the NATO mission, are always easier to sell to the Italian public. They also urged the US to push Germany to play a more positive role in the NATO mission, if not by contributing, than by helping to diminish French obstructionism. Political Progress/Development Cooperation -------------- ¶6. (C) LaFrancesca said discussion of the Iraqi political situation should focus on the most important problem on the ground - the inclusion of Sunnis in the political process and how the coalition can facilitate their involvement. Chigi official Talo' expressed particular interest in an exchange on Sunni involvement in the political situation, including contacts with other factions and coalition forces. Assuming that the election results are known, the trilateral meeting would also be an opportunity to discuss prospects for the new Iraqi government. LaFrancesca identified the following sectors as areas where Italy already is making a contribution in Iraq and has sent or is sending experts: water and agriculture, governance, electricity, and entrepreneurship. Coordinating Public Diplomacy -------------- ¶7. (C) LaFrancesca said that, from the Italian perspective, the most important message to the Italian public is that Italian efforts in Iraq have been worthwhile, that the Italian presence is taking on an increasingly civilian character, and that Italy is playing a lead role in the PRTs. This, he said, would help shield the government from criticism that Italian military involvement is dragging on for too long. He said that Carabinieri training, environmental projects, and preserving Iraqi antiquities are contributions that could help improve public perception of Italy's involvement in Iraq. Pol MC said the Italians should be as specific as possible in identifying proposals at the trilateral meeting. New Italian Ambassador to Iraq -------------- ¶8. (C) LaFrancesca said that Maurizio Melani, currently Italy's Representative to the EU Political and Security Committee, will replace Ambassador De Martino in Baghdad. Septel will provide bio information. SPOGLI