Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME1464
2008-12-03 10:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIANS URGE U.S. TO AGREE TO WATERED-DOWN
how-toVZCZCXRO7244 OO RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #1464 3381059 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031059Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1249 INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR IMMEDIATE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 4482 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE IMMEDIATE 3320 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN IMMEDIATE 9687 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES IMMEDIATE 3481 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001464
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: OSCE PREL PHUM KDEM RU IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS URGE U.S. TO AGREE TO WATERED-DOWN
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION
REF: STATE 125626
Classified By: Barbara A. Leaf, Political Minister Counselor, for reaso
ns 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001464
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: OSCE PREL PHUM KDEM RU IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS URGE U.S. TO AGREE TO WATERED-DOWN
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION
REF: STATE 125626
Classified By: Barbara A. Leaf, Political Minister Counselor, for reaso
ns 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to Elena Basile, MFA
OSCE Office Director, on December 2. Basile noted the U.S.
position and stated that she had just received instructions
to contact post to urge the U.S. to accept softer language
for the ministerial declaration to avoid a stalemate with
Russia. The OSCE risked irrelevance if it could not find a
way to continue dialogue with Russia and like-minded states.
Therefore, it was critical that the organization find
language for a ministerial declaration that would be
acceptable to all member states - a position that Italy has
taken in each of the previous three years. She admitted that
such a declaration would be one that would omit all criticism
of Russia and omit or gloss over events that had transpired
over the summer between Georgia and Russia.
2. (C) Poloff stated that the U.S. position was a principled
one. We did not believe trading values for stability was a
long-term option. The West was not trying to encircle or
isolate Russia, but it could not accept Russian behavior that
was contrary to OSCE founding principles, nor could it accept
Russia's unwillingness to comply with its legally binding
obligations. A weak declaration would not encourage more
constructive Russian behavior and could, in fact, send a
signal to Moscow that it could act with impunity.
3. (C) Basile stated that she would pass the U.S. message but
hoped that a compromise could still be found.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2018
TAGS: OSCE PREL PHUM KDEM RU IT
SUBJECT: ITALIANS URGE U.S. TO AGREE TO WATERED-DOWN
MINISTERIAL DECLARATION
REF: STATE 125626
Classified By: Barbara A. Leaf, Political Minister Counselor, for reaso
ns 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to Elena Basile, MFA
OSCE Office Director, on December 2. Basile noted the U.S.
position and stated that she had just received instructions
to contact post to urge the U.S. to accept softer language
for the ministerial declaration to avoid a stalemate with
Russia. The OSCE risked irrelevance if it could not find a
way to continue dialogue with Russia and like-minded states.
Therefore, it was critical that the organization find
language for a ministerial declaration that would be
acceptable to all member states - a position that Italy has
taken in each of the previous three years. She admitted that
such a declaration would be one that would omit all criticism
of Russia and omit or gloss over events that had transpired
over the summer between Georgia and Russia.
2. (C) Poloff stated that the U.S. position was a principled
one. We did not believe trading values for stability was a
long-term option. The West was not trying to encircle or
isolate Russia, but it could not accept Russian behavior that
was contrary to OSCE founding principles, nor could it accept
Russia's unwillingness to comply with its legally binding
obligations. A weak declaration would not encourage more
constructive Russian behavior and could, in fact, send a
signal to Moscow that it could act with impunity.
3. (C) Basile stated that she would pass the U.S. message but
hoped that a compromise could still be found.
SPOGLI