ITALY VOTING WITH THE EU ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003051 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL XG UNHRC UNGA CU IT SUBJECT: ITALY VOTING WITH THE EU ON UN THIRD COMMITTEE, CUBA RESOLUTIONS REF: A. STATE 183547 ¶B. STATE 184178 ¶C. STATE 184156 Classified By: Acting Political Minister-Counselor Jonathan R. Cohen fo r reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Poloff delivered Ref A and B points on the UN Third Committee country resolutions, No Action motions, and retaliatory resolutions November 8 to MFA Office Director for Human Rights Laura Carpini. Poloff also delivered Ref C points on the Australian amendment to the Cuba embargo resolution. On all points, Carpini responded that Italy would vote with the EU. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Emphasizing the importance of working together on behalf of what would be the most contentious country specific resolutions (Iran, Belarus),Poloff urged Italy to support a robust EU lobbying effort. On No Action motions, Carpini said the EU position had been not to support them, and Italy would follow the EU position. Poloff expressed strong U.S. concerns with the retaliatory resolutions brought by Belarus and Iran, urging Italy to vote against them and lobby to defeat them. Carpini said Italy would vote according to the EU position on the resolutions, noting that EU members were consulting in New York to develop a common position. She believed that the EU would easily decide to vote against the resolutions on human rights in the United States and in Canada. However, she believed the resolution on secret places of detention could be more problematic. Poloff pointed out that more thoughtful, balanced resolutions on the subject were already on the UNGA agenda. ¶3. (C) Poloff requested Italy's support for the Australian amendment to the Cuba embargo resolution. Carpini responded that the EU was working on a common position, which Italy would follow. She emphasized that the EU would provide a robust Explanation of Vote on the embargo resolution, stressing human rights issues. SPOGLI