GOI RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR MTCR CONSULTATIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003202 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MTR, EUR/PRA, AND T E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2031 TAGS: MTCRE PARM PREL ETTC KSCA IT SUBJECT: GOI RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR MTCR CONSULTATIONS ON USG UAV/CRUISE MISSILE PROPOSAL REF: A. STATE 191828 ¶B. ROME 1666 ¶C. STATE 81264 Classified By: EcMin Thomas L. Delare for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph four. ¶2. (C) Econ Counselor delivered ref A talking points November 30 to Carlo Tripepi, the MFA Deputy Assistant Secretary-equivalent official in charge of Missile Technology SIPDIS Control Regime (MTCR) issues. Tripepi reiterated GOI support for the USG proposal to update MTCR controls on UAVs and cruise missiles (reported ref B) and stated that GOI concerns over the USG proposal are "purely technical." He said the GOI is "totally in favor" of the USG proposal, and proposed that in lieu of face-to-face meetings or a DVC with a political-level delegation, that technical experts meet via DVC to address specific GOI questions about the USG proposal. Tripepi stated that GOI experts have already passed questions to USG counterparts. ¶3. (C) Tripepi later that day confirmed the availability of GOI technical experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Foreign Trade to participate in a DVC on December 11, 12, 14, or 15. ¶4. (C) Action requested. Post requests Department confirm the availability of USG experts on one of these dates. Embassy POC for logistical arrangements concerning this DVC is Economic Officer David Whiting (whitingd(at)state.gov). End action requested. SPOGLI