Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME1044
2008-08-14 13:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY SUPPORT FOR THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP
how-toVZCZCXRO0864 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRO #1044 2271311 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141311Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0786 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0817 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0132 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0033 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 3169 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0007 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 9518 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0038 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 3316
UNCLAS ROME 001044
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE/NNSA ADAM SCHEINMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETTC IT KNNP PARM PREL
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORT FOR THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP
DRAFT EXCEPTION TEXT FOR INDIA
REF: A. A) STATE 85948
B. B) 8/4/08 PRESTONKOCA EMAIL
C. C) ROME 888
UNCLAS ROME 001044
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE/NNSA ADAM SCHEINMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETTC IT KNNP PARM PREL
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORT FOR THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP
DRAFT EXCEPTION TEXT FOR INDIA
REF: A. A) STATE 85948
B. B) 8/4/08 PRESTONKOCA EMAIL
C. C) ROME 888
1. (SBU) Post delivered on August 13th ref A points to
Counselor Pierfrancesco De Cerchio of the office in Italy,s
Foreign Ministry's Economic Bureau, which has the lead on the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) issues, and which will
represent Italy at the August 21-22 NSG Plenary in Vienna.
Post also contacted the Ministry's Political Bureau, which
confirmed the Economic Bureau's lead on the issue. (per ref
B, the Economic Bureau's memorandum recommending support for
the India NGS exception had already been submitted to senior
Ministry decision-makers before the Italian August holiday.)
2. (SBU) De Cerchio stated that Italy views favorably an
exception for India at the NSG, but that the GOI needs to
examine more carefully the text of the draft NSG exception to
provide comments, particularly on whether or not to support
it as it is without any modifications and/or conditions. De
Cerchio said his office would try to provide comments and/or
a position on the text of the draft NSG exception on August
18.
3. (SBU) In addition, De Cerchio stated that Italy would
welcome the unanimous acceptance of an Indian exception at
the NSG, but recognizes that other countries, particularly
some European ones, have expressed reservations. Should
these countries raise concerns at the Vienna Plenary, their
views would have to be considered, he held.
4. (SBU) De Cerchio also stated that Italy supports steps
that would bring India into the fold of the nuclear
non-proliferation community, but reiterated ref C point that
Italy,s support for such steps, and for an NSG exception,
does not mean that Italy acknowledges India as a military
nuclear superpower. Rather, Italy views this as an exception
in order to facilitate greater cooperation with India in the
area of nuclear technology use for civil purposes. De Cerchio
inquired about the USG position on the recognition of India
as a military nuclear power, and said he would confirm
shortly if information on the USG position on this issue is
needed for the GOI,s consideration of the India NSG
exception.
5. (U) Note: De Cerchio welcomed a copy of the text of the
draft NSG exception included in reftel A, as his office had
not yet received the copy which, per reftel A, NSG Chair
Germany was to have circulated on August 7. It is unclear
why he had not received it, but it could be that, due to
staffing shortages, his office had not checked the NSG
electronic channels.
SPOGLI
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOE/NNSA ADAM SCHEINMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ETTC IT KNNP PARM PREL
SUBJECT: ITALY SUPPORT FOR THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP
DRAFT EXCEPTION TEXT FOR INDIA
REF: A. A) STATE 85948
B. B) 8/4/08 PRESTONKOCA EMAIL
C. C) ROME 888
1. (SBU) Post delivered on August 13th ref A points to
Counselor Pierfrancesco De Cerchio of the office in Italy,s
Foreign Ministry's Economic Bureau, which has the lead on the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) issues, and which will
represent Italy at the August 21-22 NSG Plenary in Vienna.
Post also contacted the Ministry's Political Bureau, which
confirmed the Economic Bureau's lead on the issue. (per ref
B, the Economic Bureau's memorandum recommending support for
the India NGS exception had already been submitted to senior
Ministry decision-makers before the Italian August holiday.)
2. (SBU) De Cerchio stated that Italy views favorably an
exception for India at the NSG, but that the GOI needs to
examine more carefully the text of the draft NSG exception to
provide comments, particularly on whether or not to support
it as it is without any modifications and/or conditions. De
Cerchio said his office would try to provide comments and/or
a position on the text of the draft NSG exception on August
18.
3. (SBU) In addition, De Cerchio stated that Italy would
welcome the unanimous acceptance of an Indian exception at
the NSG, but recognizes that other countries, particularly
some European ones, have expressed reservations. Should
these countries raise concerns at the Vienna Plenary, their
views would have to be considered, he held.
4. (SBU) De Cerchio also stated that Italy supports steps
that would bring India into the fold of the nuclear
non-proliferation community, but reiterated ref C point that
Italy,s support for such steps, and for an NSG exception,
does not mean that Italy acknowledges India as a military
nuclear superpower. Rather, Italy views this as an exception
in order to facilitate greater cooperation with India in the
area of nuclear technology use for civil purposes. De Cerchio
inquired about the USG position on the recognition of India
as a military nuclear power, and said he would confirm
shortly if information on the USG position on this issue is
needed for the GOI,s consideration of the India NSG
exception.
5. (U) Note: De Cerchio welcomed a copy of the text of the
draft NSG exception included in reftel A, as his office had
not yet received the copy which, per reftel A, NSG Chair
Germany was to have circulated on August 7. It is unclear
why he had not received it, but it could be that, due to
staffing shortages, his office had not checked the NSG
electronic channels.
SPOGLI