Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME3166
2006-11-22 16:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY QUINT MEETING "DAMAGE CONTROL"; ITALY SAYS
how-toVZCZCXRO6816 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #3166/01 3261647 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221647Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6595 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY 0520 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 1908 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 7958 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2044
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV XF EUN IT
SUBJECT: ITALY QUINT MEETING "DAMAGE CONTROL"; ITALY SAYS
SUPPORTS QUARTET
REF: SECSTATE 190259
ROME 00003166 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Anna M. Borg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 003166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV XF EUN IT
SUBJECT: ITALY QUINT MEETING "DAMAGE CONTROL"; ITALY SAYS
SUPPORTS QUARTET
REF: SECSTATE 190259
ROME 00003166 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Anna M. Borg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. The DCM delivered reftel points to senior
MFA officials November 22 and underscored our concern
regarding the Spanish MEPP Initiative and Italy's association
with it. The Italians said they see the Quint meeting, which
Italy is hosting November 24, as an opportunity to do "damage
control" after the premature and surprise Spanish
announcement. They took pains to distance Italy from the so
called Spanish-French MEPP initiative, while at the same time
stressing Italy's desire to see concrete movement on the MEPP
and support for the Quartet principles. They suggested that
after thorough consultation first within the EU, then with
the U.S. and finally with Israel and moderate Arabs that some
aspects of the Spanish Initiative could be salvaged and might
dovetail with the principles of the Quartet and the Roadmap.
They agreed now is not the time for an international
conference. End Summary.
2. (U) DCM and poloff delivered reftel demarche points to
MFA Political Director Terzi and MFA Deputy DG for the Middle
East Del Balzo in two separate meetings on November 22.
Lucciano Pezzotti, MFA Near East Office Director accompanied
Del Balzo. Brunella Borzi, OSCE Office Director accompanied
Terzi.
3. (C) The DCM shared U.S. reftel concerns with Terzi and
Del Balzo stressing that the Spanish initiative risks
undermining the Quartet process. She expressed concern that
Italy's offer to host the informal Quint meeting of the five
(France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) Directors General for
Middle Eastern Affairs appears to show Italian support for an
initiative the Italians have taken pains to distance
themselves from.
Italy Sees Quint Meeting as "Damage Control"; Do Not Want to
undermine Quartet
4. (C) Both Del Balzo and Pezzotti underscored Italy's
concerns with what they called the "Spanish" initiative.
Pezzotti said the point of Friday's Quint meeting, and the
need to advance the date, was in order to do what he termed
"damage control" after the surprise Spanish announcement.
Pezzotti stressed that Italy is not looking for any
"outcomes" from the meeting.
5. (C) Del Balzo pointed to Prodi's statements distancing
Italy from the initiative as evidence of their position. Del
Balzo said Italy does not want to undermine the Quartet in
anyway. However, he pointed out that Italy as a major
contributor to UNIFIL and as a Mediterranean country has a
vested interest in developments in the region, and noted that
the 'status quo' is unacceptable.
6. (C) Political Director Terzi stressed the utility of the
Quint as a forum in which the five DGs for Middle Eastern
affairs can discuss developments in the region. He said the
sooner they can meet the better, as they clearly have
differences of opinion which need to be discussed. Both
Terzi and Del Balzo stressed that the Italians are sensitive
to the need for any plan to have the endorsement of the full
EU, the U.S., Israel and moderate Arabs in order to have any
chance of success.
Italy, Spain, France: Likeminded, BUT...
7. (C) Pezzotti clearly stated "Foreign Minister D'Alema
wants something concrete," not just another "useless piece of
paper." Although Italy strongly disagrees with the tactics
advocated by the Spanish, especially with their premature
surprise announcement of the initiative, Terzi noted and Del
Balzo underscored Italy's conviction that it is necessary to
revive the peace process with some concrete progress.
Pezzotti pointed out that the Italians agree with the U.S.
that now is not the right time to hold an international
conference, and they hope to be able to convince the Spanish
as well. Terzi noted Italy remains absolutely determined to
proceed with the goals of the Road Map in mind, and that its
intention is to help move Europe as a whole toward those
objectives.
PM Prodi Calls Olmert to Reassure Israel
8. (C) In response to the DCM's questioning the value of
ROME 00003166 002.2 OF 002
continuing to talk about the Spanish initiative if Israel had
already rejected it, Del Balzo responded that PM Prodi had
spoken to Israeli PM Olmert by telephone to reassure him of
Italy's intentions not to undermine the Quartet.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV XF EUN IT
SUBJECT: ITALY QUINT MEETING "DAMAGE CONTROL"; ITALY SAYS
SUPPORTS QUARTET
REF: SECSTATE 190259
ROME 00003166 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: DCM Anna M. Borg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. The DCM delivered reftel points to senior
MFA officials November 22 and underscored our concern
regarding the Spanish MEPP Initiative and Italy's association
with it. The Italians said they see the Quint meeting, which
Italy is hosting November 24, as an opportunity to do "damage
control" after the premature and surprise Spanish
announcement. They took pains to distance Italy from the so
called Spanish-French MEPP initiative, while at the same time
stressing Italy's desire to see concrete movement on the MEPP
and support for the Quartet principles. They suggested that
after thorough consultation first within the EU, then with
the U.S. and finally with Israel and moderate Arabs that some
aspects of the Spanish Initiative could be salvaged and might
dovetail with the principles of the Quartet and the Roadmap.
They agreed now is not the time for an international
conference. End Summary.
2. (U) DCM and poloff delivered reftel demarche points to
MFA Political Director Terzi and MFA Deputy DG for the Middle
East Del Balzo in two separate meetings on November 22.
Lucciano Pezzotti, MFA Near East Office Director accompanied
Del Balzo. Brunella Borzi, OSCE Office Director accompanied
Terzi.
3. (C) The DCM shared U.S. reftel concerns with Terzi and
Del Balzo stressing that the Spanish initiative risks
undermining the Quartet process. She expressed concern that
Italy's offer to host the informal Quint meeting of the five
(France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) Directors General for
Middle Eastern Affairs appears to show Italian support for an
initiative the Italians have taken pains to distance
themselves from.
Italy Sees Quint Meeting as "Damage Control"; Do Not Want to
undermine Quartet
4. (C) Both Del Balzo and Pezzotti underscored Italy's
concerns with what they called the "Spanish" initiative.
Pezzotti said the point of Friday's Quint meeting, and the
need to advance the date, was in order to do what he termed
"damage control" after the surprise Spanish announcement.
Pezzotti stressed that Italy is not looking for any
"outcomes" from the meeting.
5. (C) Del Balzo pointed to Prodi's statements distancing
Italy from the initiative as evidence of their position. Del
Balzo said Italy does not want to undermine the Quartet in
anyway. However, he pointed out that Italy as a major
contributor to UNIFIL and as a Mediterranean country has a
vested interest in developments in the region, and noted that
the 'status quo' is unacceptable.
6. (C) Political Director Terzi stressed the utility of the
Quint as a forum in which the five DGs for Middle Eastern
affairs can discuss developments in the region. He said the
sooner they can meet the better, as they clearly have
differences of opinion which need to be discussed. Both
Terzi and Del Balzo stressed that the Italians are sensitive
to the need for any plan to have the endorsement of the full
EU, the U.S., Israel and moderate Arabs in order to have any
chance of success.
Italy, Spain, France: Likeminded, BUT...
7. (C) Pezzotti clearly stated "Foreign Minister D'Alema
wants something concrete," not just another "useless piece of
paper." Although Italy strongly disagrees with the tactics
advocated by the Spanish, especially with their premature
surprise announcement of the initiative, Terzi noted and Del
Balzo underscored Italy's conviction that it is necessary to
revive the peace process with some concrete progress.
Pezzotti pointed out that the Italians agree with the U.S.
that now is not the right time to hold an international
conference, and they hope to be able to convince the Spanish
as well. Terzi noted Italy remains absolutely determined to
proceed with the goals of the Road Map in mind, and that its
intention is to help move Europe as a whole toward those
objectives.
PM Prodi Calls Olmert to Reassure Israel
8. (C) In response to the DCM's questioning the value of
ROME 00003166 002.2 OF 002
continuing to talk about the Spanish initiative if Israel had
already rejected it, Del Balzo responded that PM Prodi had
spoken to Israeli PM Olmert by telephone to reassure him of
Italy's intentions not to undermine the Quartet.
SPOGLI