Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ROME621
2008-05-16 14:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN FM CALLS ON HIZBALLAH TO AVOID CREATING A
how-toVZCZCXRO6385 OO RUEHBC RUEHBW RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #0621 1371402 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161402Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0331 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3044 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9384 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3194 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4633 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0880
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000621
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE SY IR IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM CALLS ON HIZBALLAH TO AVOID CREATING A
"STATE WITHIN A STATE"
REF: STATE 52061
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Jonathan Cohen for r
easons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000621
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE SY IR IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM CALLS ON HIZBALLAH TO AVOID CREATING A
"STATE WITHIN A STATE"
REF: STATE 52061
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Jonathan Cohen for r
easons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) In the absence of the FM, who was in Peru attending
the EU-Latin America Caribbean Summit, we delivered reftel
points May 16 to the PM's Diplomatic Advisor for the Middle
East Marco Carnelos, to MFA Near East Office Director Carlo
Formosa, and to Lebanon desk officer Michele Tommasi, who
promised to pass them to the FM's cabinet. Carnelos will
pass the points to NSA equivelent Bruno Archi and told POLOFF
May 16 that Italy agrees with the U.S. position supporting
Arab League mediation efforts and condemning Hizballah's
recent actions. However, he said that although Italy is
under no illusions about Hizballah's actions, Italy would
probably shy away from supporting a designation of Hizballah
as a terrorist entity out of concern for the safety of
Italian UNIFIL troops, and more significantly, doubts as to
whether such a declaration would aid Siniora or simply
complicate an eventual political solution by isolating one of
the necessary parties. He noted that a designation would
have to come from the EU where other troop-contributing
nations (i.e., Spain and France) might be reluctant to
provoke Syria. However, Carnelos did not rule out a
designation and said the newly installed Italian government
was still finalizing its position and would take the U.S.
request into very serious consideration.
2. (C) MFA Lebanon desk officer Michele Tommasi echoed
Carnelos' comments adding that FM Frattini had already made
press statements on May 15 expressing strong support for the
Arab League's mediation efforts and cautioning that Hizballah
should not be permitted to become a "state within a state."
3. (C) On UNIFIL mandate renewal, Tommasi said that despite
some comments early-on in the new government's tenure, the
GOI had decided that now was not the right time to try to
change UNIFIL's mandate. He added that the French had been
particularly opposed to the idea and that the Lebanese were
also against any changes for now.
SPOGLI
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE SY IR IT
SUBJECT: ITALIAN FM CALLS ON HIZBALLAH TO AVOID CREATING A
"STATE WITHIN A STATE"
REF: STATE 52061
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Jonathan Cohen for r
easons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) In the absence of the FM, who was in Peru attending
the EU-Latin America Caribbean Summit, we delivered reftel
points May 16 to the PM's Diplomatic Advisor for the Middle
East Marco Carnelos, to MFA Near East Office Director Carlo
Formosa, and to Lebanon desk officer Michele Tommasi, who
promised to pass them to the FM's cabinet. Carnelos will
pass the points to NSA equivelent Bruno Archi and told POLOFF
May 16 that Italy agrees with the U.S. position supporting
Arab League mediation efforts and condemning Hizballah's
recent actions. However, he said that although Italy is
under no illusions about Hizballah's actions, Italy would
probably shy away from supporting a designation of Hizballah
as a terrorist entity out of concern for the safety of
Italian UNIFIL troops, and more significantly, doubts as to
whether such a declaration would aid Siniora or simply
complicate an eventual political solution by isolating one of
the necessary parties. He noted that a designation would
have to come from the EU where other troop-contributing
nations (i.e., Spain and France) might be reluctant to
provoke Syria. However, Carnelos did not rule out a
designation and said the newly installed Italian government
was still finalizing its position and would take the U.S.
request into very serious consideration.
2. (C) MFA Lebanon desk officer Michele Tommasi echoed
Carnelos' comments adding that FM Frattini had already made
press statements on May 15 expressing strong support for the
Arab League's mediation efforts and cautioning that Hizballah
should not be permitted to become a "state within a state."
3. (C) On UNIFIL mandate renewal, Tommasi said that despite
some comments early-on in the new government's tenure, the
GOI had decided that now was not the right time to try to
change UNIFIL's mandate. He added that the French had been
particularly opposed to the idea and that the Lebanese were
also against any changes for now.
SPOGLI