Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME562
2007-03-21 15:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY'S VIEWS ON THE U.S.- EU OPEN SKIES PLUS

Tags:  KTIA EAIR ECON PREL IT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1502
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV
DE RUEHRO #0562 0801543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211543Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1671
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7460
INFO RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 2255
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 8480
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 2402
UNCLAS ROME 000562 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS EB/TRA/AN COLEMAN, ENGLE, REIFMAN
BRUSSELS PLEASE PASS FOR FAA EDWARDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA EAIR ECON PREL IT
SUBJECT: ITALY'S VIEWS ON THE U.S.- EU OPEN SKIES PLUS
AGREEMENT

REF: A. SECSTATE 29781


B. SECSTATE 28944

-------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS ROME 000562

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS EB/TRA/AN COLEMAN, ENGLE, REIFMAN
BRUSSELS PLEASE PASS FOR FAA EDWARDS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA EAIR ECON PREL IT
SUBJECT: ITALY'S VIEWS ON THE U.S.- EU OPEN SKIES PLUS
AGREEMENT

REF: A. SECSTATE 29781


B. SECSTATE 28944

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) The GOI will vote in favor of Open Skies Plus, and
is confident that all EU member states will also vote in
favor. However, the GOI will not make a public statement on
the agreement. The GOI noted that some EU officials suggested
delaying the start date of the accord; Italy would favor this
course of action. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) EconOffs met with Aldo Sansone, Transport Ministry
(MoT) Director General of International Relations--Air
Transport; Michele Esposito, MFA Chief of External Relations
and International Agreements with the EU; and Achille
Vinci-Giacchi, Diplomatic Advisor to MoT. All stated that
Italy would vote in favor of the agreement at the EU meeting
March 22-23.


3. (SBU) All officials with whom we spoke felt confident
that the agreement would be approved by all member states.
Vinci-Giacchi said his contacts in Brussels indicated that
the UK would now vote in favor. Post notes that an article
appearing today (Wednesday, March 21) in Italy's leading
business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, stated that London (UK) had
overcome its reservations to Open Skies and would vote in
favor of the agreement also.


4. (SBU) None of our contacts felt that the GOI could make a
public statement in favor of the agreement. Vinci-Giacchi
noted that Italy was voting in favor of the agreement
"reluctantly," since the approval of the agreement would
complicate Italian flag carrier Alitalia's impending
privatization (no further details).


5. (SBU) According to Vinci-Giacchi, there was discussion in
Brussels March 20 of postponing the effective date of Open
Skies six months beyond the current October 2007 timeframe.
He said a delay would allow the GOI more time to consider the
best course for Alitalia. With this in mind, he suggested
that the GOI would favor delaying the effective date of the
agreement to spring 2008.
SPOGLI