Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME2013
2006-07-14 16:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
KOFI ANNAN VISITS ITALY TO TALK AFGHANISTAN, IRAN,
how-toVZCZCXRO9371 OO RUEHFL RUEHNP DE RUEHRO #2013/01 1951629 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141629Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5359 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1229 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0245 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0311 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0901 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 1577 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 7360 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 1651 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0617
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 002013
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AF SU IT
SUBJECT: KOFI ANNAN VISITS ITALY TO TALK AFGHANISTAN, IRAN,
AFRICA, UNSC REFORM
REF: ROME 1967
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 002013
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AF SU IT
SUBJECT: KOFI ANNAN VISITS ITALY TO TALK AFGHANISTAN, IRAN,
AFRICA, UNSC REFORM
REF: ROME 1967
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. Summary. (C) UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Rome
July 11-12 for meetings with Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano, PM Romano Prodi, FM Massimo D'Alema, President of
the Senate Franco Marini, President of the Chamber of
Deputies Fausto Bertinotti, and center-right leader Silvio
Berlusconi. He also spoke to an informal joint session of
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs
Committees. While, according to the MFA, Annan's meeting
with Napolitano and dinner with D'Alema were not substantive,
he covered a range of topics with Prodi. Assistant
Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister Marco Carnelos said
Prodi and Annan discussed Afghanistan, the situation in the
Middle East, Iran, UNSC reform, Darfur, China's presence in
Africa, and Italy-based UN efforts like
the logistics base in Brindisi and UN Staff College in Turin.
Prodi and Annan held a joint press conference after their
lunch in which the UNSYG praised Italy as a model UN member
country. End Summary.
--------------
Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) Commenting to Prodi "when I read the papers today, it
was all Afghanistan--I thought I was in Kabul," the UNSYG
asked Italy what its commitment was in Afghanistan, and when
it would be on the table. Prodi assured Annan Italy would
continue its engagement in Afghanistan, was committed to
staying, and would not change anything about its presence.
Carnelos said, contrary to news reports, that Annan had not
asked Italy to do more in Afghanistan. To the press, Annan
called the presence of NATO and Italian troops in Afghanistan
"fundamental."
--------------
Middle East, Iran
--------------
3. (C) Prodi and Annan tried to reach Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
twice during their meeting, to jointly share their concern
over the situation in the Middle East, but were unable to get
through. They agreed, according to Carnelos, to do their
best to help defuse the situation. The conversation on Iran
focused primarily on Prodi's report of his conversation with
Iranian Negotiator Ali Larijani two days before (ref).
--------------
UNSC Reform
--------------
4. (C) Carnelos reported Prodi and Annan had a tete-a-tete on
UNSC reform, with Annan presenting a plan for expansion that
was not clear to the GOI. The proposal, which would provide
for new semi-permanent seats, and regional rotation, seemed
like permanent seats disguised as "semi-permanent," according
to Carnelos. He noted that Italy would not object to real
semi-permanent regional rotation, but that he did not think
this would be the outcome of the UNSYG's proposal.
--------------
Darfur, China in Africa
--------------
5. (C) On Darfur, Carnelos noted Annan was pessimistic about
the possibility that the rebel factions who had not yet
signed on to the Darfur Peace Agreement would eventually do
so. Annan also expressed concern about China's large-scale
importation of raw materials from Africa. According to
Carnelos, Annan thought the influx of money was not being put
to good use, like building infrastructure. He proposed the
possibility of a U.S.-European initiative with Africa and
China to try to promote better investment of Chinese cash.
--------------
Comments to the Press
--------------
ROME 00002013 002 OF 002
6. (U) In comments to the press after lunch, Annan called for
Iran to give a signal of its position on the P5 1 proposal
and international solidarity and cooperation in Afghanistan.
He also praised both Italy's involvement in Afghanistan, and
its presence within the UN in general, calling it a "model
country" for its heavy involvement. Prodi reinforced and
confirmed Italy's support of the UN and multilateralism. He
also affirmed Italy's commitment to the struggle against
terrorism, and to development.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL UN AF SU IT
SUBJECT: KOFI ANNAN VISITS ITALY TO TALK AFGHANISTAN, IRAN,
AFRICA, UNSC REFORM
REF: ROME 1967
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. Summary. (C) UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Rome
July 11-12 for meetings with Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano, PM Romano Prodi, FM Massimo D'Alema, President of
the Senate Franco Marini, President of the Chamber of
Deputies Fausto Bertinotti, and center-right leader Silvio
Berlusconi. He also spoke to an informal joint session of
the Senate and Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs
Committees. While, according to the MFA, Annan's meeting
with Napolitano and dinner with D'Alema were not substantive,
he covered a range of topics with Prodi. Assistant
Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister Marco Carnelos said
Prodi and Annan discussed Afghanistan, the situation in the
Middle East, Iran, UNSC reform, Darfur, China's presence in
Africa, and Italy-based UN efforts like
the logistics base in Brindisi and UN Staff College in Turin.
Prodi and Annan held a joint press conference after their
lunch in which the UNSYG praised Italy as a model UN member
country. End Summary.
--------------
Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) Commenting to Prodi "when I read the papers today, it
was all Afghanistan--I thought I was in Kabul," the UNSYG
asked Italy what its commitment was in Afghanistan, and when
it would be on the table. Prodi assured Annan Italy would
continue its engagement in Afghanistan, was committed to
staying, and would not change anything about its presence.
Carnelos said, contrary to news reports, that Annan had not
asked Italy to do more in Afghanistan. To the press, Annan
called the presence of NATO and Italian troops in Afghanistan
"fundamental."
--------------
Middle East, Iran
--------------
3. (C) Prodi and Annan tried to reach Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
twice during their meeting, to jointly share their concern
over the situation in the Middle East, but were unable to get
through. They agreed, according to Carnelos, to do their
best to help defuse the situation. The conversation on Iran
focused primarily on Prodi's report of his conversation with
Iranian Negotiator Ali Larijani two days before (ref).
--------------
UNSC Reform
--------------
4. (C) Carnelos reported Prodi and Annan had a tete-a-tete on
UNSC reform, with Annan presenting a plan for expansion that
was not clear to the GOI. The proposal, which would provide
for new semi-permanent seats, and regional rotation, seemed
like permanent seats disguised as "semi-permanent," according
to Carnelos. He noted that Italy would not object to real
semi-permanent regional rotation, but that he did not think
this would be the outcome of the UNSYG's proposal.
--------------
Darfur, China in Africa
--------------
5. (C) On Darfur, Carnelos noted Annan was pessimistic about
the possibility that the rebel factions who had not yet
signed on to the Darfur Peace Agreement would eventually do
so. Annan also expressed concern about China's large-scale
importation of raw materials from Africa. According to
Carnelos, Annan thought the influx of money was not being put
to good use, like building infrastructure. He proposed the
possibility of a U.S.-European initiative with Africa and
China to try to promote better investment of Chinese cash.
--------------
Comments to the Press
--------------
ROME 00002013 002 OF 002
6. (U) In comments to the press after lunch, Annan called for
Iran to give a signal of its position on the P5 1 proposal
and international solidarity and cooperation in Afghanistan.
He also praised both Italy's involvement in Afghanistan, and
its presence within the UN in general, calling it a "model
country" for its heavy involvement. Prodi reinforced and
confirmed Italy's support of the UN and multilateralism. He
also affirmed Italy's commitment to the struggle against
terrorism, and to development.
SPOGLI