ITALYASKS FOR HELP ON URS LOGISTICS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002982 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y. ADDED INFO ADDRESSEES. CHANGED TEXT IN PARA 1 FROM MEETING IN IRAQ TO MEETING IN KUWAIT. SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID NATO IZ IT SUBJECT: ITALYASKS FOR HELP ON URS LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION REF: STATE 178689 Classified By: Classified by David D. Pearce, Political Minister Counse lor, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. PolMinCouns met with Italian Iraq Task Force coordinator De Martino on October 27 to deliver reftel points and discuss Italian URS logistics. De Martino told PolMinCouns that Italy would be represented at the October 31 Iraq Compact Meeting in Kuwait by the Italian Ambassador to Baghdad. De Martino noted that the security situation on the ground was creating difficulties in recruiting NGO and other expert-level personnel for Iraq. On air transport and logistical support issues, the Italians had not yet approached the Japanese for air transport assistance but would do so during a coalition conference in November. The Italians also asked for help in coordination of other day-to-day logistical issues, including fuel, food and laundry. End Summary. IRAQ COMPACT AND FOLLOW ON MEETINGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) PolMinCouns delivered reftel points and encouraged De Martino to send a high-level delegation to the Iraq Compact meeting in Kuwait. PolMinCouns also told De Martino that any initiatives on NTM-I needed to be tabled this week in order to be considered in time for the NATO summit in November. De Martino said that he would not attend the October 31 Iraq Compact meeting but would attend the coalition conference in London in November. He added that he hoped the security situation on the ground would improve because the current security situation was impeding Italy's efforts to recruit NGO and expert-level personnel to work in Iraq. ADDRESSING THE SECURITY SITUATION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) De Martino said the security situation could be improved by providing pensions to army and police personnel not considered for re-employment. This would provide assistance to hundreds of thousands of families. While this would be expensive initially, it would be offset by significant savings on security. The coalition should also consider bringing back two- and three-star generals who could help reconstitute their former units to improve the security situation. De Martino added that the coalition should consider offering some form of amnesty to selected groups. ITALY NEEDS HELP WITH LOGISTICS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) De Martino said he had not approached the Japanese for air transport issues but would do so during the November coalition meeting in London. He asked for USG support for providing food and laundry for the URS civilian personnel saying that Italian law prevented them from doing so. Italy had provided office furniture, supplies, computers, and communications links and hoped that the U.S. could provide some sort of in-kind assistance. De Martino added that he would like his URS civilians to obtain badges to enter Camp Adder. He asked that the U.S. contractor KBR provide the Italian embassy in Baghdad fuel invoices directly as opposed to through a third party. SPOGLI