GOI WILL SEND DELEGATION TO EXPORT CONTROL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001253 SIPDIS ISN/ECC FOR JOHANSON ISN/ECC FOR BALDWIN ISN/CATR FOR MITCHELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018 TAGS: ETTC HR KSTC PARM PREL SUBJECT: GOI WILL SEND DELEGATION TO EXPORT CONTROL CONFERENCE IN CROATIA REF: A. STATE 092748 ¶B. 09/26/08 MITCHELL-CURRAN E-MAIL Classified By: Economic Counselor William R. Meara for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) On 10 October Roberto Liotto and Pierfrancesco De Cerchio of the Italian MFA informed EconOff that the GOI will send a delegation to the October 20-22 export control conference, to be held in Cavtat-Dubrovnik, Croatia (reftel A). Italy will fill its two allotted slots with Angelo Felicetti and Marco De Andreis, two officers from the anti-fraud unit of the Italian Customs Agency, which implements export controls. Liotto assured EconOff that the appropriate paperwork would be sent early in the coming week. ¶3. (C) In response to reftel B, De Cerchio also expressed general interest in holding bi-lateral export control consultations between the GOI and the USG later in the year. De Cerchio said that if the USG presented a note verbale with some specificity as to the level, date and place for such consultations, he would coordinate a GOI response. He said Rome was preferable to Washington, late November was best for timing, and two days might be an appropriate duration. Post seeks guidance on how to proceed. ¶4. (C) Comment: De Cerchio had previously on October 6 informed Post that Italy would not be able to send a delegation due to the heavy workload of Italian export control officers. Post subsequently encouraged MFA Director General Magliano to reconsider the Italian position, especially in light of the confirmed participation of France and Germany. Post is pleased with the GOI reversal on conference participation. End Comment. SPOGLI