ITALY FOLLOWING SUMATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000756 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016 TAGS: EU PGOV PHUM PREL VE IT SUBJECT: ITALY FOLLOWING SUMATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS REF: STATE 30521 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff met with MFA South America Office Director Piero Benassi March 1 to deliver reftel demarche. Noting the judicial harassment of non-governmental organization (NGO) Sumate, Poloff urged Italy to speak out in defense of the accused leaders, send observers to the trial, and convey to the Venezuelan government that these actions raise concerns about Venezuela's democratic credentials. March 7, Benassi responded that the MFA had instructed its Embassy in Caracas to follow closely developments in the judicial proceedings and keep Rome informed. The GOI was aware of the issue, according to Benassi, and was sensitive to U.S. concerns about the treatment of Sumate. He said that the Italian Embassy might also raise its own concerns with the GOV. SPOGLI