Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME1959
2007-09-13 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR ASKS SANNINO TO RECONSIDER HIGH-LEVEL
how-toVZCZCXRO6703 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #1959 2561557 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131557Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8990 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0375 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 0034 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI IMMEDIATE 0222 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE IMMEDIATE 2618 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN IMMEDIATE 8928 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES IMMEDIATE 2754
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).
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
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