Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME1106
2007-05-23 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
OIE CHINA/TAIWAN: ITALY SUPPORTS EU POSITION TO
how-toVZCZCXRO4213 PP RUEHFL RUEHNP RUEHRN DE RUEHRO #1106 1431440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231440Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8101 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1266 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1409 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0855 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0496 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0101 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1888 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0169 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2389 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8662 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2555 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY 0106 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 0093
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001106
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PREL EAGR AORG TW CH IT
SUBJECT: OIE CHINA/TAIWAN: ITALY SUPPORTS EU POSITION TO
DELAY VOTE
REF: STATE 67444
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001106
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PREL EAGR AORG TW CH IT
SUBJECT: OIE CHINA/TAIWAN: ITALY SUPPORTS EU POSITION TO
DELAY VOTE
REF: STATE 67444
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Office Director
for East Asia Giuseppe Mistretta May 21, emphasizing the need
to work for consensus and delay a vote on the PRC resolution
in the absence of consensus. May 22, Mistretta responded
that Italy fully supported the EU position:
--The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) was a
technical organization and should not be a forum for
political issues.
--The Chinese resolution, even amended, would contain
language that was too tough on Taiwan and should not be voted
on during this assembly.
--If the resolution had to come to a vote, the vote should be
by secret ballot.
However, there were several EU countries that would not
object to the resolution in exchange for PRC participation in
the OIE--including Cyprus, Malta, Hungary and other new
members. The EU would have a meeting May 23 to try to reach
consensus on the issue.
¶2. (C) Mistretta noted that while Italy's representative,
Romano Marabelli, was in daily contact with the MFA and fully
supported the GOI position, many of the other OIE
representatives--experts not used to following MFA
instructions--might act as they saw fit if the resolution
came to a vote. Mistretta noted that the French and
Bulgarian representatives seemed particularly willing to go
their own way. He suggested that lobbying the delegates
themselves in Paris would be the most effective way to win
votes.
¶3. (C) While Italy strongly believed politics should be kept
out of the OIE, Mistretta said he thought the U.S., EU, and
like-minded countries were in the minority. He also raised
concerns that President Barry O'Neil was not only pushing for
a vote, but an open vote. Mistretta had spoken with New
Zealand's Ambassador in Rome to gauge if O'Neil was acting on
instructions from Wellington. She was not aware of the
issue, but promised to consult with her MFA.
Spogli