ITALIANS HESITANT ON TOUGHER SUDAN SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001233 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017 TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC UN SU EU IT SUBJECT: ITALIANS HESITANT ON TOUGHER SUDAN SANCTIONS REF: A. STATE 73693 ¶B. ROME 903 Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Tom Delare for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff met June 1 with Fabrizio Pignatelli, MFA Horn of Africa Office Director, to discuss ref A points and press the GOI to support, within the UNSC, a strong sanctions resolution against Sudan. (Note: Ref A points were also delivered to MFA UN Office Director Leonardo Bencini, who offered no comment.) Pignatelli responded that Italy is in favor of putting pressure on Khartoum, but that the GOI still believes continuing negotiations would be more effective than additional sanctions (ref B). Pignatelli remarked that the GOI hopes to see positive developments from the Sudanese government during the July 17 UNSC visit to Khartoum and the trilateral meetings in Addis Ababa. Poloff emphasized to Pignatelli that Sudan has stalled for years over complying with the international community's demands on Darfur and now was the time to apply further pressure on Sudan. EU sanctions could be particularly effective given the level of investment -- including Italian -- in Sudan. Pignatelli downplayed Italy's economic presence in Sudan. ¶2. (C) Italy believes the international community should give Khartoum additional time to find a solution acceptable to the Sudanese government, Pignatelli said. However, the GOI is in favor of putting all possible pressure on Sudan. Pignatelli also noted that Italy supports the French proposal to increase humanitarian assistance efforts. ¶3. (SBU) Econoff presented ref A points June 4 to Roberto Ciciani, International Desk Director with the Ministry of Finance's Office for the Prevention of Financial Crimes. (Note: Ciciani's office oversees the GOI's coordination and implementation of international sanctions through its chairing of Italy's Financial Security Committee. End note.) Ciciani said his office would forward the information to the FSC and inform post of any questions or concerns. However, he explained that the MFA's position on Sudan sanctions would carry the day in GOI deliberations. Spogli