Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME450
2006-02-14 15:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
FINI-LAVROV MEETING: RUSSIA CAN PLAY A ROLE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO6760 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #0450 0451559 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141559Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3605 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 0988 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 6480 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 1046 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000450
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG RU IT
SUBJECT: FINI-LAVROV MEETING: RUSSIA CAN PLAY A ROLE IN
MIDDLE EAST, UKRAINE TO BLAME ON GAS CRISIS
Classified By: Classified by David D. Pearce, Political Minister Counse
lor, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000450
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG RU IT
SUBJECT: FINI-LAVROV MEETING: RUSSIA CAN PLAY A ROLE IN
MIDDLE EAST, UKRAINE TO BLAME ON GAS CRISIS
Classified By: Classified by David D. Pearce, Political Minister Counse
lor, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Antonio Cascio, an official in the
Russia/Central Asian Department of the Italian MFA, told
poloff that during a visit to Rome on February 7, Russian FM
Lavrov told Italian FM Fini that Russia can play an
important and constructive role in the Middle East. Lavrov
told Fini the Iranian crisis could be solved through the
proposed Russian plan to allow Iranian enrichment efforts to
take place on Russian soil. Lavrov was pessimistic that any
other approach would succeed. Lavrov also stated that
Russia was encouraging President Assad of Syria to cooperate
with the UN investigation of the Hariri assassination but
feared excessive international pressure could lead to a
destabilization of Syria. Lavrov said Russia has a wider
array of options in dealing with Hamas since Russia has not
declared Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Lavrov blamed
the Ukrainian Government for
the recent fuel crisis. At a joint press conference later
that day, Fini also blamed Ukrainian diversion of fuel
destined for Europe as the cause of the problem. Cascio
characterized the comments as "unfortunate" since the MFA's
reporting and analysis pointed to Russian manipulation of
prices and supply to be the primary problem. End Summary.
2. (C) On February 7, Russian FM Lavrov visited Rome to meet
with Italian FM Fini. Lavrov told Fini that Russia could
play an important and useful role in defusing the Iranian
nuclear crisis. Iranian justifications for their
program were not credible to the Russian leadership. The
Russian Government, however, was convinced that sanctions
would only strengthen the Iranian Government and lead to a
hardening of the Iranian position. Instead, Russia was
seeking support for its plan to undertake Iranian enrichment
activities on Russian soil. Fini told Lavrov that at the
very least, an international consensus of the problem was
being formed.
3. (C) Lavrov reportedly told Fini that Russia was taking a
pragmatic approach to events in Syria and Palestine. Russia
was encouraging President Assad of Syria to cooperate with
the UN investigation of the Hariri assassination but warned
that the intense international pressure could lead to a
destabilization of Syria. On the Palestinian elections,
Lavrov believed that Russia could
encourage responsible Hamas behavior, since Russia was one of
the few countries that has not declared Hamas to be a
terrorist organization. Fini told Lavrov that the GOI was
also willing to be pragmatic but added that Italy would
continue to insist that Hamas renounce terrorism as a
political tool and recognize the right of Israel to exist.
4. (C) Cascio claimed that Lavrov and Fini were not able to
discuss the current disruption of energy supplies during the
hour-long meeting, but did discuss it as they walked to the
press conference. Lavrov blamed Ukrainian diversion of
supplies destined for Europe as the cause of the crisis. As
they reached the podium, Fini told reporters that the crisis
was not sparked by Russia's unwillingness to comply with
existing commitments, but by Ukrainian efforts to
divert supplies for their own use. Cascio characterized the
remarks as "unfortunate" since MFA reporting and analysis has
pointed primarily to Russian political manipulation of supply
and price. He had no explanation for Fini's
comments.
5. (C) Comment: Although the GOI does not absolve Ukraine of
all blame, officials at all levels of the MFA agree with the
USG assessment that Russia's monopolistic and manipulative
behavior as an energy supplier is the primary
cause of price fluctuations and supply irregularities.
Fini's comments came in the midst of a political campaign
season for April 9 national elections, and were likely
intended to reach an audience concerned about the status of
Italian energy reserves. We reiterated our concerns to Cascio
that criticism of Ukraine plays into the hands of the
Russians, and we will continue to press that message
at all levels.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG RU IT
SUBJECT: FINI-LAVROV MEETING: RUSSIA CAN PLAY A ROLE IN
MIDDLE EAST, UKRAINE TO BLAME ON GAS CRISIS
Classified By: Classified by David D. Pearce, Political Minister Counse
lor, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Antonio Cascio, an official in the
Russia/Central Asian Department of the Italian MFA, told
poloff that during a visit to Rome on February 7, Russian FM
Lavrov told Italian FM Fini that Russia can play an
important and constructive role in the Middle East. Lavrov
told Fini the Iranian crisis could be solved through the
proposed Russian plan to allow Iranian enrichment efforts to
take place on Russian soil. Lavrov was pessimistic that any
other approach would succeed. Lavrov also stated that
Russia was encouraging President Assad of Syria to cooperate
with the UN investigation of the Hariri assassination but
feared excessive international pressure could lead to a
destabilization of Syria. Lavrov said Russia has a wider
array of options in dealing with Hamas since Russia has not
declared Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Lavrov blamed
the Ukrainian Government for
the recent fuel crisis. At a joint press conference later
that day, Fini also blamed Ukrainian diversion of fuel
destined for Europe as the cause of the problem. Cascio
characterized the comments as "unfortunate" since the MFA's
reporting and analysis pointed to Russian manipulation of
prices and supply to be the primary problem. End Summary.
2. (C) On February 7, Russian FM Lavrov visited Rome to meet
with Italian FM Fini. Lavrov told Fini that Russia could
play an important and useful role in defusing the Iranian
nuclear crisis. Iranian justifications for their
program were not credible to the Russian leadership. The
Russian Government, however, was convinced that sanctions
would only strengthen the Iranian Government and lead to a
hardening of the Iranian position. Instead, Russia was
seeking support for its plan to undertake Iranian enrichment
activities on Russian soil. Fini told Lavrov that at the
very least, an international consensus of the problem was
being formed.
3. (C) Lavrov reportedly told Fini that Russia was taking a
pragmatic approach to events in Syria and Palestine. Russia
was encouraging President Assad of Syria to cooperate with
the UN investigation of the Hariri assassination but warned
that the intense international pressure could lead to a
destabilization of Syria. On the Palestinian elections,
Lavrov believed that Russia could
encourage responsible Hamas behavior, since Russia was one of
the few countries that has not declared Hamas to be a
terrorist organization. Fini told Lavrov that the GOI was
also willing to be pragmatic but added that Italy would
continue to insist that Hamas renounce terrorism as a
political tool and recognize the right of Israel to exist.
4. (C) Cascio claimed that Lavrov and Fini were not able to
discuss the current disruption of energy supplies during the
hour-long meeting, but did discuss it as they walked to the
press conference. Lavrov blamed Ukrainian diversion of
supplies destined for Europe as the cause of the crisis. As
they reached the podium, Fini told reporters that the crisis
was not sparked by Russia's unwillingness to comply with
existing commitments, but by Ukrainian efforts to
divert supplies for their own use. Cascio characterized the
remarks as "unfortunate" since MFA reporting and analysis has
pointed primarily to Russian political manipulation of supply
and price. He had no explanation for Fini's
comments.
5. (C) Comment: Although the GOI does not absolve Ukraine of
all blame, officials at all levels of the MFA agree with the
USG assessment that Russia's monopolistic and manipulative
behavior as an energy supplier is the primary
cause of price fluctuations and supply irregularities.
Fini's comments came in the midst of a political campaign
season for April 9 national elections, and were likely
intended to reach an audience concerned about the status of
Italian energy reserves. We reiterated our concerns to Cascio
that criticism of Ukraine plays into the hands of the
Russians, and we will continue to press that message
at all levels.
SPOGLI