TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS -- USG SITUATION

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000361 SIPDIS NOFORN SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2011 TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER ITALY NATIONAL ELECTIONS ITALIAN POLITICS SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS -- USG SITUATION REPORT (SITREP) #1, 02/07/2006 Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reasons 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU/NF) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/07/2006. ¶2. (SBU/NF) USG interagency Joint Operations Center (JOC) numbers (24/7) are: 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). USG interagency Threat Integration Center (TIC) numbers (24/7) are: 39-011-55-99-790/791 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶3. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. ¶4. (SBU) Threats: The US Government is unaware of any specific, credible threat information directed against the Olympic Games in Turin, nor in primary Olympics mountain sites in Bardonecchia, nor Sestriere. USG interagency Olympics Security Coordination (OSC) Office is liaising with Italian counterparts to monitor and resolve concerns regarding potential terrorist strikes linked to the Games and Italian General Elections. Open source reporting and Italian authorities are focused on the security environment before general elections in April and consider next few months to require high alert also for the security operations related to the Olympics. OSC is actively coordinating security efforts with Italian authorities regarding the reported theft of a vehicle containing a Turin Olympic Committee access pass. ¶5. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: Local protesters have targeted Olympic-related activities and personnel, to include the Olympic Torch Run and US Olympic corporate sponsors; additional protests against Olympic activities are expected. OSC and the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) remain in daily contact with Italian interlocutors regarding all known and developed threats against US corporate sponsors. Anti-globalization, left-wing and anarchist activists have planned a "netstrike" e-mail attack/protest for 02/10/2006 against Coca-Cola in response to the company's sponsorship of the Games. OSC facilitated a meeting on 02/07/2006 between Coca-Cola and local Italian authorities to consult on host government preparations. �A; SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶6. (U) The USG interagency OSC JOC and TIC initiated 24/7 operations on 02/06/2006, at 0700 hours local time. The shift schedules are 0700-1500, 1500-2300, and 2300-0700. USG deployed security assets are currently 143 personnel: 73 DSS, 43 FBI, plus EUCOM/ESAT, NCTC, NGA, and other Government agencies. ¶7. (SBU) The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) continues to work with Turin Airport authorities in preparation for the visit of First Lady Laura Bush (FLOTUS). TSA is also working with U.S. corporations for charter flights. On 02/06/2006, TSA reported that its inspectors are on site at Milan SIPDIS Malpensa Airport and will review Continental Airlines flight operations on 02/07/2006. All TSA personnel are in place in Turin and Milan. In addition, Supervisory Federal Air Marshals (FAM) are in Milan to provide assistance; the first FAM flights will begin on 02/08/2006. VIPs -------------- ¶8. (SBU) There has been widespread media coverage that FLOTUS, accompanied by daughter Barbara, will lead the Presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremonies. Prior to arriving in Turin, FLOTUS is scheduled to have an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on 02/09/2006, and other appointments, including with GOI, in Rome. USSS advance and OSC field liaison officers are working this visit in Turin. There are no known threats specifically targeting the FLOTUS visit. See below for open-source comments from protestors regarding visit. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶9. (U) There are no unresolved issues at this time. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶10. (U) As the Opening Ceremonies approach, Italian media are extensively reporting on security measures for the Olympics. Leading stories focus on domestic far-left, anti-globalization, and anarchist groups' intended protests against the Games. On 02/07/2006, anti-globalization groups reportedly will announce their initiatives to boycott events surrounding the Olympic Torch Run. Corriere della Sera, Italy's most widely-circulated centrist newspaper, reported on protests intending to "boycott" VIPs, including FLOTUS. The Rifondazione Communista head and leaders of the anti-high-speed-train ("No TAV") movement claimed that protests will occur every day leading up to the Opening Ceremonies; these may include interfering with the Torch Run and defacing the logos of Olympic sponsors. In contrast, an editorial by the deputy managing editor of Corriere della Sera strongly criticized the protests against the Olympics. ¶11. (U) Various media outlets report that Italy's Interior Minister convened a meeting on 02/06/2006 in Rome to discuss Olympic security issues; separate reporting indicates that he will hold another session on 02/09/2006 with Intelligence and law enforcement representatives. La Stampa quoted the Interior Minister as saying that "mayors no longer control the situation, and anarchists and anti-globalization groups are leading protests." The same story also mentions a heightened awareness of international terrorist activity on the part of authorities so that Turin does not become "another Munich." In the absence of specific threats, the article notes that general alert remains high. The leader of the Rifondazione Communista leader Bertinotti has stated that he cannot help Turin mayor Chiamparino avoid further protests. This story gets widespread coverage in the context of domestic politics and the coming elections; Chiamparino is a former communist who is now prominently centrist. ¶12. (U) Operations -- The U.S. Turin Public Affairs Office may be reached on a 24-hour basis at 39-011-55-99-368. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶13. (U) The Consular office for the duration of the Turin Olympics is co-located with the Public Affairs office, in the same building as the Olympics Security Coordination and Olympics Coordination Offices in Turin. The Consular section is staffed by ten employees: three consular officers, three senior FSNs and four temporary consular clerks. This consular office provides Emergency services for US citizens, and has established an extensive network of contacts with hotels, hospitals, and local law enforcement officials. Consular contact information: Telephone number 011-5599-330. Fax: 011-5599-551. Additional information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov. As of this filing, the Turin Consular Office has not received any requests for service. SPOGLI