ITALY IN FAVOR OF LEBANON CONTACT GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000571 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2007 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER UNSC LBAR IR IT SUBJECT: ITALY IN FAVOR OF LEBANON CONTACT GROUP REF: SECSTATE 36202 Classified By: Acting POL M/C Jonathan Cohen for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Near East Office Director Luciano Pezzotti March 22. Pezzotti appreciated the follow-up to NEA DAS Danin's February 23 visit and his suggestion to increase intelligence sharing through diplomatic channels and agreed that evidence of continued weapons smuggling into Lebanon was disturbing. On additional UNSC action to enforce the arms embargo, Pezzotti said Italy is supportive in principle but suggests the matter first be discussed at the working level, perhaps in the proposed contact group. Pezzotti noted Italy supports creation of a contact group as evidenced by FM D'Alema's statements to Secretary Rice in their March 19 meeting. Pezzotti said D'Alema had cautioned against bringing intelligence on Syrian arms smuggling directly to the UNSC before the involved parties have agreed on the appropriate next steps. ¶2. (C) Pezzotti asked at what level we envisage the Lebanon contact group meet, where we think the group meeting, at what venue, in what time frame, and with what countries. Poloff shared that we were currently talking to France, Italy, Germany and the UK and that we would like to see a meeting at the "working level" soon. Pezzotti shared that the next informal meeting of the "EU quint" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain , UK) Mid-East DG's was scheduled for March 23 in Paris. SPOGLI