MTCR: GOI SUPPORTIVE OF UPDATED CONTROLS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001666

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STATE PASS TO ISN/MTR, OSD/NPP, AND T

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2031
TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL ETTC TSPA KSCA IT
SUBJECT: MTCR: GOI SUPPORTIVE OF UPDATED CONTROLS FOR
UAV/CRUISE MISSILE SYSTEMS

REF: STATE 81264

Classified By: Acting Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs Richard B
oly for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) A/EcMin delivered reftel letter from U/S Joseph to
Carlo Tripepi, the MFA's Deputy Assistant
Secretary-equivalent official in charge of Missile Technology

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Control Regime (MTCR) issues. Undersecretary Joseph's
counterpart, MFA Director General for International Economic
Affairs Giandomenico Magliano, to whom we addressed the
letter, was not available. Tripepi is Magliano's senior
advisor on nonproliferation issues and promised to pass U/S
Joseph's letter to DG Magliano.


2. (C) Responding to points made in U/S Joseph's letter,
Tripepi expressed support for updating the technical criteria
used to control exports of UAV and cruise missile systems.
Tripepi said that "if you are worried, we are worried too,"
and asked that USG technical experts engage their GOI
counterparts on the proposal at an early date. Tripepi
summed up the GOI position by noting that better controls on
UAV and cruise missile technology "is in the interest of our
common security."


3. (C) After his initial meeting with A/EcMin, Tripepi
called EconOff to say he had consulted with the head of the
GOI technical experts responsible for MTCR issues. Tripepi
restated that the GOI "fully shares" USG views on the need
for an updated approach to control UAV and cruise missile
systems. Tripepi said a response to U/S Joseph's letter from
Magliano will be forthcoming.
SPOGLI