TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000377 SIPDIS NOFORN SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/S-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2007 TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS--USG SITUATION REPORT (SITREP) #2, 02/08/2006 REF: ROME 361 Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/08/2006. ¶2. (SBU) The interagency Olympic Security Coordination (OSC) Office can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following numbers: USG Joint Operations Center (JOC) 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax) USG Threat Integration Center (TIC) 39-011-55-99-790/791 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). ¶3. (SBU) Attached is a key for USG acronyms used within this cable: Olympic Security Coordination Office (OSC); Joint Operations Center (JOC); USG Threat Integration Center (TIC); Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA). SECURITY ISSUES -------------- ¶4. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. ¶5. (SBU) Threats: The US Government is unaware of any specific, credible threat information directed against the Olympic Games in Turin, or in the primary Olympics mountain sites of Bardonecchia and Sestriere. In addition, there is currently no information available to suggest a threat to FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation scheduled to arrive on 02/10/2006. ¶6. (U) Demonstrations/Protests: Local protesters continue to target Olympic-related activities and personnel, to include the Olympic Torch Run and US Olympic corporate sponsors; additional protests against Olympic activities are expected. According to the "Boycott Coca-Cola Network" (REBOC) website, the Communist Renewal Party is sponsoring two new protests against the Torch Run on 02/09/2006 at 1500 hours at Piazza Sabotino and on 02/10/2006 at 1400 hours at the University Club at Via San Ottavio. OSAC has informed corporate security representatives of Coca-Cola, General Electric, and Kodak of these events. The OSC will coordinate with the Italian Polizia di Stato (National Police) and DIGOS (General Investigations and Special Operations) for additional data regarding the protests. OSC and OSAC remain in daily contact with Italian interlocutors regarding all known and developed threats against US corporate sponsors, to include the "netstrike" e-mail attack/protest against Coca Cola planned for 02/10/2006. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶7. (SBU/NF) USG security activities described in REFTEL (ongoing liaison with host government interagency law enforcement, military, and intelligence authorities, with Olympics organizing committee security officials, with U.S. corporate security and FLOTUS USSS lead responsible officials) continue. VIPs -------------- ¶8. (SBU) FLOTUS and the Presidential Delegation are scheduled to arrive in Turin on 02/10/2006 for the Opening Ceremonies and depart on 02/12/2006. Daughter Barbara Bush will remain in Turin on private travel until 2/15/2006. News media continues to focus on the FLOTUS visit and a partially accurate itinerary is now in the public realm. Inaccurate information regarding the FLOTUS security detail has also appeared in print. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶9. (U) OSC continues to liaise with Italian counterparts to monitor and resolve concerns regarding potential threats to the Games and the period immediately prior to the Italian General Elections. These sentiments are reflected in current and past media reports, as well as in exchanges with Italian authorities who have been on a heightened state of alert for the past several months. ¶10. (U) As noted in REFTEL, OSC continues to coordinate efforts with Italian authorities to investigate the reported theft of a vehicle containing a Turin Olympic Committee access pass. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶11. (U) The U.S. Public Affairs Office in Turin is currently staffed by four Americans and seven Italian employees. They may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368. The U.S. office at the TorinoPiemonte (non-Olympics news focus) Media Center has opened and is currently staffed with two Italian employees; an American employee will arrive on 02/09/2006. ¶12. (U) It is noteworthy that media coverage has focused more closely on the FLOTUS visit, protest activity, and the statements of public officials rather than on the Olympic Games themselves. Both the media and Italian officials continue to note the absence of any specific threats against the Games. The following summary contains highlights from local media: ¶13. (U) FLOTUS: Quotidiano Nazionale (QN) reported the date of arrival of FLOTUS in Italy, including an outline of her schedule for her Friday arrival in Turin. QN also noted that Saturday (02/11/2006) could prove to be the most difficult day of her schedule in terms of security. Il Messaggero carried an article titled "The Torch and the First Lady,s Visit Targeted by the Antagonists,s Movements." The US Public Affairs Office in Turin has contacted both print and wire media outlets to discourage any further publication of specific information regarding the FLOTUS itinerary. ¶14. (U) Security Concerns: Il Messaggero carried information on upcoming protests planned by Social Centers (anarchist groups),which intend to conduct disruptive actions throughout the Games. These include a protest in Piazza Sabotino scheduled for 02/09/2006, a sit-in and a protest on 02/10/2006 to mark the passage of the Olympic Torch and the Opening Ceremonies, and unspecified actions planned to coincide with the movements of FLOTUS on 02/11/2006. Vatican Radio and La Stampa covered Interior Minister Pisanu,s statements that the actions of anti-high-speed-train (No TAV) and anti-globalization groups could pose a greater threat to the Games than the activities of Islamic terrorists. Minister of Interior Pisanu noted that while there are currently no specific terrorist threats against the Olympics, the possibility of an attack occurring could not be discounted, underscoring that Italian security forces remained on alert. ¶15. (U) Public Statements: La Stampa carried the article "Ciampi: The Olympics - We Cannot Fail," covering the President's televised message exhorting the people of Italy to help ensure the success of the Games. Ciampi's message implicitly referred to news of protests and encouraged instead positive activity by Italians in support of the Olympics. Il Riformista printed statements by Mercedes Bresso, Governor of the Piedmont region, in which she praised Ciampi,s call for calm and a successful Games, while at the same time criticizing the government and leading opposition candidate Prodi,s handling of the issue of the high-speed train (TAV). (Bresso is a member of the center-left opposition; most public statements by politicians are in the context of April general elections. Ciampi is considered above politics, is popular, and his remarks are a call for unity for the significant national event of the Olympics.) CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶16. (U) CA hosted a representational event for Turin hospital directors in order to distribute consular information cards and brochures. As of this filing, the Turin Consular Office has not received any requests for American citizen service. ¶17. (U) The Consular Office may be contacted at the following numbers: 011-5599-330 (tel.); 011-5599-551 (fax). Additional information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov. SPOGLI