Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME259
2007-02-08 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY SHARES USG VENEZUELA CONCERNS, EU WORKING ON
how-toVZCZCXRO1805 PP RUEHFL RUEHNP RUEHROV DE RUEHRO #0259 0391231 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081231Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7140 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1724 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1643 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0756 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0479 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1787 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1752 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2212 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 0273 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0328 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY 0591 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2141 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8323 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2279 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4478
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000259
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND LOURDES CUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV EU VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALY SHARES USG VENEZUELA CONCERNS, EU WORKING ON
APPROACH
REF: STATE 12181
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 000259
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND LOURDES CUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV EU VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALY SHARES USG VENEZUELA CONCERNS, EU WORKING ON
APPROACH
REF: STATE 12181
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche February 6 to MFA
South America Office Director Francesco Talo and Desk Officer
Paolo Campanini, urging Italy to raise the issue of Radio
Caracas Television (RCTV) privately and publicly with the
Venezuelan government. Talo said Italy shared our concerns
that RCTV's license would not be renewed, and about President
Chavez's other efforts to consolidate power. According to
Talo, many EU countries had expressed concern and the EU was
working on an approach. Brussels had requested a report from
EU heads of mission in Caracas and, once the report was
complete, the EU would make a decision on how to proceed.
The EU would voice its concerns to Venezuela, Talo said, and
Italy would work within the EU to this end.
2. (C) Talo pointed out that the EU had achieved some small
measure of success with the pressure it had put on the GOV in
response to the new Venezuela NGO law. He wondered why the
U.S. had focused its efforts on specific cases like RCTV (and
Sumate earlier) in lieu of raising general concerns about
Chavez's recent actions.
3. (C) The GOI continued to be concerned about kidnapping of
Italian nationals, with new cases reported every month, and
Talo noted Italy had to consider the safety of its citizens
when considering its policy toward Venezuela. Italian MFA
Under Secretary for Latin America Donato Di Santo had
traveled to practically every country in the Americas except
Venezuela. Talo said Di Santo would eventually visit Caracas
as well, although nothing had been scheduled yet. Talo said
Italy hoped to stay in close contact with the U.S. on
Venezuela issues.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND LOURDES CUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV EU VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALY SHARES USG VENEZUELA CONCERNS, EU WORKING ON
APPROACH
REF: STATE 12181
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David D. Pearce for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche February 6 to MFA
South America Office Director Francesco Talo and Desk Officer
Paolo Campanini, urging Italy to raise the issue of Radio
Caracas Television (RCTV) privately and publicly with the
Venezuelan government. Talo said Italy shared our concerns
that RCTV's license would not be renewed, and about President
Chavez's other efforts to consolidate power. According to
Talo, many EU countries had expressed concern and the EU was
working on an approach. Brussels had requested a report from
EU heads of mission in Caracas and, once the report was
complete, the EU would make a decision on how to proceed.
The EU would voice its concerns to Venezuela, Talo said, and
Italy would work within the EU to this end.
2. (C) Talo pointed out that the EU had achieved some small
measure of success with the pressure it had put on the GOV in
response to the new Venezuela NGO law. He wondered why the
U.S. had focused its efforts on specific cases like RCTV (and
Sumate earlier) in lieu of raising general concerns about
Chavez's recent actions.
3. (C) The GOI continued to be concerned about kidnapping of
Italian nationals, with new cases reported every month, and
Talo noted Italy had to consider the safety of its citizens
when considering its policy toward Venezuela. Italian MFA
Under Secretary for Latin America Donato Di Santo had
traveled to practically every country in the Americas except
Venezuela. Talo said Di Santo would eventually visit Caracas
as well, although nothing had been scheduled yet. Talo said
Italy hoped to stay in close contact with the U.S. on
Venezuela issues.
SPOGLI