ITALY: SANNINO ON KOSOVO, IRAN, MEPP, SYRIA -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001842

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC KV IR IS WE SY JO IT
SUBJECT: ITALY: SANNINO ON KOSOVO, IRAN, MEPP, SYRIA -
SEEKS INCENTIVES FOR SERBS, SEES PROGRESS WITH IRAN,
SUPPORTS ABBAS, SHARA TO VISIT ROME

ROME 00001842 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD SPOGLI, REASONS 1.4 B and D.

SUMMARY
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1. (C/NF) In a wide-ranging conversation over breakfast
August 29, the Ambassador discussed Kosovo, Iran, Hamas and
Syria with the PM's Senior Diplomatic Advisor (National
Security Advisor-Equivalent) Stefano Sannino. Sannino agreed
that a UNSCR on Kosovo was unlikely and suggested that the
international community's response to a unilateral
declaration of independence include a package of incentives
to keep Serbia from responding negatively. He assured the
Ambassador that Italy would continue to apply faithfully
sanctions against Iran, doubted that Russia would agree to
additional Iran sanctions, and believed that the IAEA was
making real progress. Sannino said Italy clearly wanted to
support Palestinian President Abbas, but above all wanted to
avoid a permanent split among the Palestinian people. He
expressed concern that the debate between Fatah and Hamas was
more heated than that between Hamas and Israel. Sannino
informed the Ambassador that Syrian Vice President Shara
would visit Rome September 6. The Ambassador cautioned that
such a visit would send an unhelpful message to Damascus by
welcoming a senior Syrian official to a major western capital
without the GOS having taken actions to merit such a reward.
End Summary.

Kosovo - Hug the Serbs to Keep Them Still
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2. (C/NF) The Ambassador met PM Prodi's Senior Diplomatic
Advisor Stefano Sannino over breakfast August 29. Sannino
agreed that no progress had been made on Kosovo in the
dialogue between the parties and that a UNSC resolution was
unlikely. He said Italy was focused on all the non-status
issues with an eye to improving the quality of life for
minorities. To prepare a response to the expected unilateral
declaration of independence, Sannino suggested developing a
strong package of incentives for Serbia, "smothering the
Serbs with love" so Belgrade does not move negatively in
response to a UDI. He saw the main challenges in developing
a common EU position coming from Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia
and Romania, and said he tells colleagues from those
governments that they may not like the path being planned for
Kosovo, but that the alternatives are worse and they should
support the path to Kosovo's independence as the lesser of
two evils. When the Ambassador asked where FM D'Alema stood
on Kosovo, Sannino replied that the FM was less firm on
independence, but understood that ultimately the question
needed a practical solution, and that a mechanism had to be
found to move forward and confer legal legitimacy on the
outcome.

Iran - Moving in the Right Direction?
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3. (C/NF) Turning to Iran, Sannino assured the Ambassador
that Italy would continue to faithfully apply required
sanctions against Iran, but hoped that there would soon be a
"freeze" on both sides (Iranian suspension of activity and UN
suspension of sanctions). Sannino doubted that Russia would
agree to any additional Iran sanctions. He said Italian
information suggested that the Iranians had slowed down
development of their nuclear program while the conversation
with the IAEA was taking place, and that Italy hoped the IAEA
would soon be able to conduct genuine inspections. He
thought we were close to reaching a more positive position
with Iran on the nuclear issue. The Ambassador noted U.S.
concern that Iran would open just enough to get the IAEA in
the door, but not enough to let the IAEA confirm an end to
nuclear enrichment activity.

Hamas - Support Abbas, Avoid Split Among Palestinians
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4. (C/NF) Sannino stressed that Italy wanted to support
Palestinian President Abbas, that the GOI had taken pains to
clarify PM Prodi's recent comments about dialogue with Hamas
in such a way as to make this clear, and that Italy's actions
would continue to demonstrate its support for Abbas.
However, Italy wanted to help avoid the creation of a
permanent split within the Palestinian population. He was

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concerned that the debate between Hamas and Fatah was more
heated than that between Hamas and Israel. The Ambassador
replied that the Palestinian people needed to decide what
course to take. The U.S. hoped they would choose Fatah as
the moderate voice in the debate, and the one that is getting
and will continue to get international support. The
challenge was to convert international support into broader
support from the Palestinians themselves.

Syria's Shara to Visit Rome Sept. 6
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5. (C/NF) When Sannino informed the Ambassador that Syrian
Vice President Farouk al-Shara would visit Rome September 6,
the Ambassador forcefully said that such a visit would send
Damascus the wrong message. Sannino replied that Italy did
not believe Syria was so far gone that it could not be
brought in as a positive force. The Ambassador reiterated
that Syria needed to change its bad behavior before being
rewarded with senior-level visits to important western
capitals. Finally, Sannino said he and PM Prodi would visit
Jordan September 1-2.
SPOGLI