ITALIAN POLITICIANS REACT WITH GRIEF AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001261 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA, EUR/WE AND S/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL UNSC PGOV EAID IZ IT SUBJECT: ITALIAN POLITICIANS REACT WITH GRIEF AND CONDEMNATION TO NASIRIYAH ATTACK REF: ROME 03 5121 ROME 00001261 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Pol M/C David D. Pearce for Reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Italian politicians reacted with grief, solidarity, and condemnation April 28 following the killing of three Italians and a Romanian in Nasiriya. PM Berlusconi said he was deeply grieved by the deaths and center-left leader Prodi called it a tragedy for all of Italy. One center-left party official said, "we will not allow the Islamic terrorists to condition the decisions of the future government on foreign policy." A government statement cited the need to "continue with no uncertainties." It noted the policy of progressive military disengagement would be matched by enhancement of the civilian component of the Italian mission. End summary. ¶2. (C) Italian politicians across the political spectrum reacted with grief, solidarity, and condemnation of terrorism to the April 28 IED that killed three Italian and one Romanian soldiers in Nasiriyah. The attack seems to have had little impact on the positions of moderate center-left leaders, who warned against using the tragic events for political gain or giving in to terrorists. Predictably, the far left Greens and Communist Renewal (RC) used the attack to reiterate their call for immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq, though RC leader Bertinotti was quoted as saying that the attack "is an additional reason for our commitment against war and terrorism." Public statements by both center-right and center-left leaders are quoted in paragraphs 7 and 8 below. Embassy Expresses its Condolences -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Spogli expressed his condolences privately to Defense Minister Martino and other Italian political leaders, and publicly in remarks at a Confindusria conference that were picked up by the press. Confindustria observed a minute of silence during the event, at which the British Ambassador was also present. DAO is preparing letters to the Chief of Defense and Chiefs of the Army and Carabinieri. Pol MC also expressed his condolences to Marco Carnelos, Diplomatic Advisor to PM Berlusconi, and Luca del Balzo, Deputy Director General of the MFA's Middle East bureau, and PolOff to the MFA's Iraq Task Force officer Stefano Stucci. Al Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Responsibility -------------- ¶4. (C) According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the Imam Hussein Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack on the Islamic website AlHesbah.org, a forum for groups officially connected to Al Qaeda. The message read, "Today Thursday 27/4/2006, a bomb was made to explode against an Italian military patrol and a vehicle that carried three Italian soldiers and a Romanian was destroyed in the region of Nasiriyah, in southern Iraq. Allah be praised!" Also according to ANSA, Shite cleric Moqtada Sadr asked the Iraqi government the same day to set up a calendar for the withdrawal of foreign troops. Sadr reportedly said he has no idea who is behind the attack on the Italians, but that he "welcomed the statements by the new Italian PM candidate, who promised to draft a calendar for the withdrawal of the Italian troops in Iraq." ¶5. (C) Del Balzo told Pol MC that he had told a "possible member of the next government" that Italy must continue with its current course and that the new Prime Minister should support this to ensure a success story in Iraq. Pol MC stressed that violence must not succeed, nothing should be done that could destabilize the country, and the allies needed to continue to coordinate carefully. Del Balzo agreed, saying he had stressed to his contact the importance of training, both bilateral and NATO. Del Balzo said he was ROME 00001261 002.2 OF 003 "very confident that everything will be under control" despite the change in government. He said the current government and the new majority leaders are in synch on timetable and objectives. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The political fallout from the April 27, 2006 attack is strikingly similar to the 2003 Nasiriyah bombing that claimed the lives of 17 Italian soldiers. Despite predictions that the 2003 attack would drive Italy out of Iraq, Italians instead rallied together to support their fallen heroes. Two and a half years later, mainstream center-left leaders not only are avoiding calls for hasty troop withdrawal, but stressing the need to act responsibly and the fact that the actions of the incoming government will not be determined by terrorists. Prodi is painfully aware that any rash decisions would provoke not only the U.S. but the British, in whose sector the Italian troops are operating, and the Iraqis, who have repeatedly urged Italy to maintain its presence. ¶7. (U) Public statements issued by the current government: Council of Ministers: "What happened confirms the need to continue with no uncertainties the activities carried out so far in tight coordination with the democratically elected Iraqi authorities and with the countries committed in the mission approved by the UN. Our efforts are aimed at the progressive disengagement during 2006 of the military presence and the simultaneous enhancement of the civilian component of our assistance to the population." Prime Minister's office: "PM Berlusconi is following the developments after the attack in Nasiriyah and is in constant contact with Under Secretaries Gianni Letta and Paolo Bonaiuti at Palazzo Chigi. PM Berlusconi is deeply grieved by the death of our military personnel and that of the Romanian and shares the grief of their families." Foreign Minister's office: "Hearing early this morning of the tragic events in Nasiriyah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini immediately contacted the Ambassador of Italy Maurizio Melani for news on how the situation was evolving and to express his condolences and solidarity with our military contingent, stuck once again by savage terrorism while fulfilling their duties on a mission of peace...Fini sent personal messages of condolences to the families of each of the soldiers killed in the cruel bombing this morning in Nasiriyah In extending his heartfelt grief and deep solidarity with them, Minister Fini acknowledged the sacrifice, dedication and loyalty with which these troops, who died while on a mission of peace, have honored all Italians." Defense Minister's office: "Defense Minister Martino...with profound grief for the terrorist attack that struck the Italian military in Nasiriyah, expressed his sincere condolences deep solidarity for the families of the victims who fell in the line of duty. The minister is in continuing contact with the Defense Staff and other senior government officials to be constantly informed of the dynamics of the attack, the conditions of the wounded, and the development of the situation on the ground." Interior Minister Pisanu: The victims in Nasiriyah "died to build the peace." Culture Minister Buttiglione: "One can be for or against our presence in Iraq. On e cannot, however, abandon our place in the struggle against terrorism and one cannot give the impression of being submissive to vile and barbaric actions such as this assassination." CHOD's office: "Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola learned of the serious attack at Nasiriyah and the damages to the Italian Joint Task Force during an official visit in ROME 00001261 003.2 OF 003 Serbia-Montenegro. The Chief of Staff addressed his first thoughts to the families of the victims, which all of the Italian military ...Admiral Di Paola therefore expressed his deep condolences on behalf of all the armed forces, their personal, to the Army Chief of Staff General Filiberto Cecchi and the Carabinieri Chief of Staff General Luciano Gottardo. Similar sentiments were expressed to the Romanian Chief of Staff. Admiral Di Paola, keeping himself constantly informed, is following the conditions of the wounded soldier." ¶8. (U) Center-left statements: Prodi: a "tragedy that hits all of Italy...it is time to join in the mourning of the families of the victims. It is not the time to make political considerations." Troop withdrawals would occur "with the necessary technical timing" and "in consultation with the Iraqi authorities." Democrats of the Left (DS) leader Fassino: "I think that this national bereavement must inspire in all of us a great sense of responsibility, also because of tomorrow's political passage and the best way to be responsible is not to use such a sad event in an emotional manner to bend it for the political convenience of this side or that." Daisy leader Rutelli: "It must be clear to all that Italy's agenda in Iraq has never been and never will be determined nor changed by the criminal actions of terrorists." Gianni Vernetti, Daisy: "We will not allow the Islamic terrorists to condition the decisions of the future government on foreign policy. We will continue in the plans for gradual withdrawal of our troops in agreement with the Iraqi government. An offensive by Islamist terrorism is under way from Dahab to Nasiriyah to destabilize the Arab countries and scare the western world. Emotional responses now would be wrong and would not honor the 36 Italians that fell in Iraq as they were striving to help that population build a future of peace and development for itself." SPOGLI