BOSNIA: ITALY CONCERNED ABOUT ANTI-DAYTON RHETORIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001306 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2018 TAGS: PGOV BK EU IT SUBJECT: BOSNIA: ITALY CONCERNED ABOUT ANTI-DAYTON RHETORIC REF: STATE 113894 Classified By: Liam Wasley, Acting Political Minister Counselor, for re asons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Balkans Office Director Raimondo De Cardona on October 28. De Cardona noted that Italy was concerned about increasing anti-Dayton rhetoric coming from Silajdzic and Dodik and the inability of political parties to move beyond narrow political, and often personal, agendas. De Cardona noted that Italy would strongly support HR Lajcak in his efforts to move the 5/2 agenda forward and press for rapid adoption of reforms required for EU integration. De Cardona was cautious about possible measures against Silajdzic and Dodik. The EU could consider freezing assistance projects but few EU-funded programs remained. Visa sanctions would require consensus among the 27 EU member states, which would be difficult to obtain. Harsher options, such as use of Bonn powers to remove officials from office, were unlikely to be supported by Italy. ¶2. (C) De Cardona noted that Italy was awaiting the release of the Solana-Rehn paper on Bosnia expected in November but had not been asked to provide input. SPOGLI