AMBASSADOR PUTS DOWN MARKER WITH CENTER-LEFT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000122

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV IT IRAQI FREEDOM ITALIAN POLITICS ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PUTS DOWN MARKER WITH CENTER-LEFT ON
IRAQ PULLOUT

REF: A) ROME 85 B) 05 ROME 3179 C) ROME 4064

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald P. Spogli for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador on January 11 told Daisy
Party leader Francesco Rutelli that the Center-Left could not
begin its relationship with the United States in a worse
manner than to unilaterally declare a withdrawal of Italian
troops from Iraq in the event of a Center-Left victory in the
April 9 elections. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador pulled aside Daisy Party leader
Francesco Rutelli at a January 11 reception for visiting
Codel King. He told Rutelli that we had heard (ref a) that
the Center-Left intended to announce, immediately upon
winning the elections, its intention to withdraw from Iraq.
Ambassador noted that Center-Left coalition leader Romano
Prodi's international affairs adviser, Ricardo Levi, had
assessed that center-left coalition dynamics would require
that this be accomplished no later than the end of 2006, and
likely within three to six months of a new government
assuming office. Levi had said the new government was
expected to begin its work in the second half of June.


3. (C) Speaking in Italian, the Ambassador told the Daisy
leader that there was no step the Center-Left could take at
the outset, to get off more on the wrong foot with the United
States, than to unilaterally declare that it was leaving
Iraq. Rutelli seemed somewhat taken aback, and made
reassuring noises about the Center-Left's desire to consult
prior to any announcement, as well as its intent to look for
other ways to stay engaged in Iraq beyond the military
commitment. But he did not take direct issue with the gist
of our recent briefing by Prodi Adviser Levi on Center-Left
intent to make an immediate announcement on withdrawal if it
won the elections in April.


4. (C) Pol M/C reinforced the message separately with
Rutelli at the same event, noting the political as well as
practical importance of Italy's troop contribution and the
need to be extremely careful with public comments in the
interest of Iraqi security and stability.


5. (C) Comment: Rutelli got the message, but we will
continue to follow up with him and others. However, we
suspect Levi correctly flagged the center-left's bottom line:
they will consult to ensure maximum stability and security,
but not accept a completely open-ended conditions-based
arrangement. End Comment.
SPOGLI