AMBASSADOR ASKS SANNINO TO RECONSIDER HIGH-LEVEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001959 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC IR SU SY IT SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR ASKS SANNINO TO RECONSIDER HIGH-LEVEL CONTACT WITH IRAN, SYRIA; SANNINO LAYS OUT ITALY'S UNSC PRIORITIES REF: A) ROME 1949 B) ROME 1919 Classified By: Classified by Ronald P. Spogli, Ambassador, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) On September 13, the Ambassador met with Stefano Sannino, Senior Diplomatic Advisor to PM Prodi. Sannino informed the Ambassador that he would be traveling to Tehran next week to meet Deputy FM Jalili and chief nuclear negotiator Larajani to discuss the nuclear issue, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Sannino's trip comes on the heels of visits to Rome by Iranian DFM Jalili and Syrian VP Shara earlier this month (reftels). Sannino explained that the GOI was not compromising anything by maintaining dialogue with Tehran and Damascus and would continue to pass strong messages to the Iranian regime. The Ambassador responded that high-level engagement with Iran and Syria without achieving results risked improving the profile of the two regimes and damaging Italian credibility. The Ambassador, however, thanked Sannino for letting the US know about his travel in advance. ¶2. (C/NF) Comment. Despite our appeals, the GOI continues to have high-level contacts with Iranian and Syrian officials. The Prodi government insists that it continues to maintain a hard-line with both governments and refuses to acknowledge that their contacts undermine broader international efforts to press both regimes into better behavior. The Italians themselves acknowledge they see value in dialogue for its own sake. And in regard to Syrian contacts, they believe that dialogue with both Damascus and Beirut provides them with a unique ability to be accepted by both parties. Sannino On Italy's UNSC Priorities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C/NF) Sannino said Italy's UNSC agenda this fall would focus on environment, the abolition of the death penalty and Africa. On Africa, Sannino noted that Sudanese president Bashir would be in Rome on September 14 for meetings with the GOI and the Vatican. He added that the PM had asked the Ministry of Finance to set aside funds in the forthcoming budget for a possible significant Italian contribution to an African mission. Sannino did not specify whether this support would come in the form of a troop deployment or as contributions to another type of international effort. SPOGLI