Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ROME625
2007-03-27 15:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY ISSUES DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF AHTISAARI'S

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNMIK YI EU IT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRO #0625 0861516
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271516Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7532
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0303
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1743
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1360
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 4331
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2230
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0046
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0814
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 4294
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2273
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 8506
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 2422
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0386
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2849
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0317
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0729
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4500
UNCLAS ROME 000625 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK YI EU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY ISSUES DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF AHTISAARI'S
PROPOSALS

REF: A) STATE 37835 B) LONDON 1177

UNCLAS ROME 000625

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK YI EU IT
SUBJECT: ITALY ISSUES DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF AHTISAARI'S
PROPOSALS

REF: A) STATE 37835 B) LONDON 1177


1. (U) On March 26, the Italian MFA issued a statement in
support of UNOSEK Ahtisaari's proposal for Kosovo and pledged
to work toward finding a status solution for Kosovo in the
UNSC. The statement also welcomed the role of NATO and EU in
ensuring the stability of the region. Text of statement is
as follows:

Begin text.

The foreign ministry in Rome has expressed its appreciation
to Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari for his presentation to the
Security Council of a proposal for the future status of
Kosovo, and has assessed the outcome of his efforts as
positive. Ahtisaari's proposal represents a major
contribution to the creation of a multiethnic and democratic
society in Kosovo based on the principles of rule of law
within the broader framework of regional cooperation and
Euro-Atlantic integration.

Italy views the proposal's overall architecture favourably,
with particular regard to the fundamental rights standards
envisaged for all the components of the society of Kosovo.
We are particularly in favour of the assumption of a front
line role, replacing UNMIK, for the European Union, which,
along with NATO is to become a fundamental factor in the
area's security.

Italy will continue to actively support, particularly within
the framework of the UN Security Council, the pursuance of
the process toward the future status of Kosovo, which, with
the presentation of the proposal by the UN Secretary
General's Special Envoy, has taken a decisive step forward.
In particular, Italy intends to pursue its efforts in support
of the democratic stability of the countries of the region
and of their increased European prospects.

End text.

(The text is available on the Italian MFA website in English
at www.esteri.it.)


2. (SBU) Comment. Raimondo De Cardona, Head of the MFA
Balkans Office, noted that Italy shares the US vision
outlined in ref a and would continue to push for Contact
Group unity on the issue. Nevertheless, the Italian
statement makes no reference to independence nor does it make
clear that the Ahtisaari proposal is the only way forward.
Despite the MFA's insistence about staying the course,
Italy's public statements on Kosovo remain ambiguous. Post
will raise ref a points at a high level in the week ahead.
SPOGLI