COESPU: ITALIAN PROPOSALS FOR NEXT CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001555 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PM/PPA: RACHEL FEATHERSTONE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016 TAGS: KPKO MARR MOPS PGOV PREL IT SUBJECT: COESPU: ITALIAN PROPOSALS FOR NEXT CANDIDATE COUNTRIES REF: STATE 4121 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL-MILITARY COUNSELOR JONATHAN R.COHEN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. See Paragraph 11. ¶2. (C) Summary: Italy recommends inviting Chile, Ghana, Nigeria, Serbia and Montenegro (SaM),and South Africa to participate in the Center of Excellence for Police Stability Units (COESPU) in Vicenza. In addition, Italy looks to the U.S. to recommend one Asian country. Prior to approving a final list, Italy urges consultation with the UN,s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). End Summary ¶3. (C) On May 8, MFA G-8 Office Head Giampaolo Cantini told polmiloff that Italy favors inviting seven new countries to participate in COESPU. These countries would join the six countries already participating in COESPU (Cameroon, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, and Senegal). Of the new countries Italy recommends, only Chile is not on the State Department,s initial list of countries transmitted in Reftel. ¶4. (C) Cantini said Italy wants to maintain COESPU,s priority of enhancing African peacekeeping capability by including at least three sub-Saharan countries. However, these should have military structures clearly capable of developing and deploying Stability Police Units (SPUs). Following this criteria, Italy recommends inviting Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. ¶5. (C) Of the NATO/PfP countries listed in Reftel, Italy favors Turkey because of its gendarmerie tradition and longstanding relationship with the Italian Carabinieri. Italy also views Bulgaria and Ukraine as possible COESPU participants; but Cantini stressed that Turkey is head and shoulders above them in the field of militarized police. ¶6. (C) The Italians favor inviting SaM because of Serbia's capable gendarmerie and because of Italy's bilateral relationship with SaM. In 2003 Italy and SaM signed a military cooperation agreement that the Italian parliament will ratify this year. At NATO headquarters, Italy is pressing to become the NATO contact point for SaM. The Italian Carabinieri hope to develop a mentoring relationship with the Serbian gendarmerie. A decision to invite SaM should take into account the Montenegro and Kosovo issues, Cantini said; however, Italy believes SaM (or Serbia) would be a strong COESPU participant. ¶7. (C) Italy strongly favors inviting Chile (not listed in Reftel) to participate because of Chile,s outstanding gendarme capabilities and highly developed relationship with the Carabinieri. ¶8. (C) Italy agrees on the usefulness of inviting an Asian country and welcomes U.S. suggestions. Cantini noted that Pakistan, probably stimulated by India,s participation, has already expressed interest several times. The Philippines would be acceptable. Italy is open to considering Indonesia (not listed in Reftel) if the U.S. favors it, but would have to take that proposal back for evaluation before approving. ¶9. (C) Cantini explained that Italy does not favor Nepal and Bangladesh because of their unstable internal situations. Italy judges that Costa Rica, Panama, Benin, and Mali lack security/military structures strong enough to support SPU development. ¶10. (C) Prior to approving a final list of candidate countries, Cantini said, the U.S. and Italy should confer with DPKO to ensure that COESPU,s participants remain in line with projected global peacekeeping needs. ¶11. (C) Action Request: Post asks the Department to respond to Italy,s suggestions and to recommend an Asian country for COESPU participation. SPOGLI