FOLLOWUP: GOI SEEKS USG RESPONSE ON LEGAL

S E C R E T ROME 000551

SIPDIS

NOFORN

FOR EUR/WE, L

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PREL IT IZ ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: FOLLOWUP: GOI SEEKS USG RESPONSE ON LEGAL
ASSISTANCE CASES

REF: ROME 223

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD P. SPOGLI, Reasons 1.4 (b) (c) (d)


1. (S/NF) REFTEL NOTED ITALIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE HAD
APPEALED TO AMBASSADOR FOR RESPONSES ON SEVERAL OUTSTANDING
BILATERAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ISSUES. TWO INVOLVED ACTS OF
TERROR IN IRAQ AGAINST ITALIAN CITIZENS; ANOTHER RELATES TO
THE FATAL SHOOTING OF AN ITALIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. THE
MESSAGE PROPOSED SEVERAL POSSIBLE WAYS FORWARD.


2. (S/NF) THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOW FORWARDED TO THE
JUSTICE ATTACHE HERE YET ANOTHER MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
TREATY (MLAT) REQUEST RELATING TO THE THIRD MATTER, THE DEATH
OF INTELLIGENCE AGENT CALIPARI.


3. (S/NF) COMMENT: WE DO NOT KNOW IF PRIME MINISTER
BERLUSCONI WILL RAISE THESE ISSUES WHEN HE MEETS POTUS IN
WASHINGTON ON FEBRUARY 28. WE DO KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS
BEEN FENDING OFF PRESSURE FROM MILAN PROSECUTORS TO FORWARD
TO THE USG PROVISIONAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR 22 SUPPOSED CIA
AGENTS INVOLVED IN THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPING OF ABU OMAR. WE
ALSO KNOW THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ATTACHES CONSIDERABLE
POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO A RESPONSE ON THESE OTHER
IRAQ-RELATED REQUESTS, SINCE THE ITALIAN JUSTICE MINISTER HAS
NOW RAISED THEM WITH BOTH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE
AMBASSADOR. POST RECOMMENDS AN EXPEDITED USG RESPONSE ON
SOME OR ALL OF THE THREE CASES DETAILED REFTEL, IF POSSIBLE
BEFORE FEBRUARY 28. END COMMENT.
SPOGLI