Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME239
2008-02-28 07:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN FM D'ALEMA TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA FOR ENI
how-toVZCZCXRO9471 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #0239 0590756 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280756Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9885 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0766 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 2916 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9257 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3068
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000239
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM D'ALEMA TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA FOR ENI
CONTRACT SIGNING, LIKELY TO MEET CHAVEZ - PROMISES TO
DOWNPLAY POLITICAL ASPECT OF VISIT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD P.SPOGLI, REASONS 1.4 B AND D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000239
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM D'ALEMA TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA FOR ENI
CONTRACT SIGNING, LIKELY TO MEET CHAVEZ - PROMISES TO
DOWNPLAY POLITICAL ASPECT OF VISIT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD P.SPOGLI, REASONS 1.4 B AND D.
1. (C/NF) Italian FM D'Alema called the Ambassador Feb. 27 to
inform that he planned to travel to Venezuela at the end of
the week for a one-day visit for the signing of a major
oil/gas concession to Italian energy firm ENI. D'Alema said
ENI Chairman Scaroni had pushed him hard to attend and that
he had decided to do so. He was contacting us because he
wanted us to know about the trip in advance, and to register
that he did not want it to become a "big deal." D'Alema
pointed out that there is a large Italian community in
Venezuela and he would hold some sort of event with Italian
reps there.
2. (C/NF) D'Alema told the Ambassador that he also planned to
meet with President Chavez. When the Ambassador said the
U.S. wished he would not meet with Chavez and urged that he
downplay the political aspects of the trip, D'Alema replied
that he believed he had to have the Chavez meeting, adding,
"I am a democrat. I hate dictators. I am no fan of Chavez."
He noted that he was taking the trip to support Italian
business, that he intended to make only moderate statements,
and that he would indeed downplay the political aspects.
3. (C/NF) D'Alema said he would provide us trip details when
they are available.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018
TAGS: PREL VE IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM D'ALEMA TRAVEL TO VENEZUELA FOR ENI
CONTRACT SIGNING, LIKELY TO MEET CHAVEZ - PROMISES TO
DOWNPLAY POLITICAL ASPECT OF VISIT
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD P.SPOGLI, REASONS 1.4 B AND D.
1. (C/NF) Italian FM D'Alema called the Ambassador Feb. 27 to
inform that he planned to travel to Venezuela at the end of
the week for a one-day visit for the signing of a major
oil/gas concession to Italian energy firm ENI. D'Alema said
ENI Chairman Scaroni had pushed him hard to attend and that
he had decided to do so. He was contacting us because he
wanted us to know about the trip in advance, and to register
that he did not want it to become a "big deal." D'Alema
pointed out that there is a large Italian community in
Venezuela and he would hold some sort of event with Italian
reps there.
2. (C/NF) D'Alema told the Ambassador that he also planned to
meet with President Chavez. When the Ambassador said the
U.S. wished he would not meet with Chavez and urged that he
downplay the political aspects of the trip, D'Alema replied
that he believed he had to have the Chavez meeting, adding,
"I am a democrat. I hate dictators. I am no fan of Chavez."
He noted that he was taking the trip to support Italian
business, that he intended to make only moderate statements,
and that he would indeed downplay the political aspects.
3. (C/NF) D'Alema said he would provide us trip details when
they are available.
SPOGLI