DAL MOLIN UPDATE: VICENZA COMMUNITY MOSTLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MILAN 000214

SIPDIS

ROME FOR ODC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINS PREL IT
SUBJECT: DAL MOLIN UPDATE: VICENZA COMMUNITY MOSTLY
SUPPORTIVE, BUT CONCERNS LINGER

Classified By: CG Carol Perez for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: In meetings with local Vicenza politicians
across the political spectrum, the general consensus was that
the ugliest period of contentious and politically charged
opposition to the U.S. army's Dal Molin base construction has
passed. Their assessment is that most community residents are
either favorable or indifferent to the project. That said,
even among supporters there are some lingering concerns about
the impact of Dal Molin -- above all the fear of increased
traffic disrupting the center of town in the absence of a
"tangenziale" ring road to connect the two bases.
Additionally, residents are concerned about the prospect of
additional American military personnel in their midst given
the existing military's perceived isolation from the greater
Vicenza community. The tangenziale is something that the
Italian government must resolve, and it is certainly in our
interest they do so. The need for new collaboration with
Vicentini civil society is also a point well taken. We'll
work with our good partners in the city and region to promote
it. End Summary.

Dal Molin: No Longer a Political Hot Potato


2. (SBU) In October 27 meetings in Vicenza, local politicians
from the Democratic Party (PD),Popolo della Liberta (PDL),
and Northern League (LN) parties described general support
of, or resignation to, the army's Dal Molin base construction
project among community residents. The army commenced early
this year construction of the new base to accommodate more
than 1,500 new soldiers coming from Germany to Vicenza in
order to consolidate by 2012 the 173rd BCT in one location.
According to these politicians, the days of rabid and vocal
opposition to the base expansion project have safely passed,
and the anti-base Mayor Variati,s August 2009
acknowledgement that the project was going forward took wind
out of the remaining opponents' sails. A prominent local
journalist similarly assessed that Dal Molin is no longer an
issue in the local political discourse, and that most people
at this point are indifferent (if they were not already).
The most positive outlook on the base expansion came from the
Lega Nord, whose local party secretary said that a majority
of young people are actually favorable to the base and hold a
positive view of Americans.

The Importance of a Road


3. (SBU) Although most of the politically charged and
ideological opposition to the project has subsided -- or at
least quieted -- there is still significant concern across
the political spectrum about logistical problems the Dal
Molin project will almost certainly create. Specifically,
every politician highlighted worries about the increase of
traffic and congestion in Vicenza's city center as a result
of the new army base, which is located several kilometers
across town from the existing Caserma Ederle base.
Historically, the traffic issue has been a major point of
contention for those opposing the base, and as a result of
the town's insistence, the Italian central government
approved, and agreed in principle to fund, a ring road
("tangenziale") around the city to connect the two bases and
prevent additional army-related traffic from the narrow roads
through the urban center. However, the project has not
advanced beyond a feasibility study carried out more than a
year ago.


4. (SBU) In earlier discussions with LN-affiliated provincial
authorities (the proposed tangenziale route would pass
through land owned by both the city and the province) we
heard complaints over the slow pace of the project. The
provincial President, conveniently also an executive in a
local highway-construction and operation company, said that
the whole thing could be done in three years if the political
will in Rome and Vicenza existed. He noted that pressure on
local authorities to get the route agreed to and on Rome
authorities to get necessary permits for construction were
all that would be required. Though the tangenziale would
cost around 500 mln euro, he estimated, budgetary constraints
should not come into play. The President told us he thought
the project could be privately financed with repayment in 20
years via a shadow toll system that would charge local
drivers a users surcharge. Although all the politicians
we've spoken with acknowledge that delays in the construction
of the tangenziale were the fault of the Italian central

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government, not the Americans, they feared that continued
delays in the construction of the tangenziale could
reinvigorate the mostly dormant opposition to the base, and
breed ill-will toward the Dal Molin project and the American
government in general.

More Integration is Key


5. (SBU) In addition to the tangenziale issue, perceived poor
integration of the army community was cited by politicians as
a problem hindering U.S.-Vicenza relations. They noted that
the larger Vicenza community has virtually no interaction
with the American military personnel who live in their midst
(even though the vast majority of troops live off base).
Every politician, in one way or another, underscored the
desire for more interaction and exchange between the American
troops and the rest of the community. Several politicians
bemoaned the fact that the only interaction between Vicenza
residents and the base over the past 50 years has been the
annual 4th of July party, when the base is opened to the
public, and on Friday and Saturday nights when soldiers come
to town to eat and drink. The politicians had a number of
ideas for how to strengthen ties between the American
military community and the town of Vicenza, including
specific suggestions for cultural and educational exchanges,
study abroad and other university programs, and shared
activities (like Boy Scouts) for Italian and American
children as means for engaging the local community.

Comment: Time for a New Strategy


6. (C) The reduction in violent opposition, and the tactical
retreat of Mayor Variati, give us some breathing space to
develop a strategy to ensure Dal Molin is completed and the
173rd consolidated in 2012 with a minimum of friction. We
agree that short-term progress on the tangenziale issue is
essential to this end and something on which we need to work
with our Italian partners -- both on the federal and local
levels. Though the money and decision making must come from
the Italians, the traffic that will boil Vicentini blood will
be U.S. military. The claims of poor integration are also a
point well taken. With the message that "Dal Molin will
happen, so let's move on," we're re-approaching Vicenza civil
society leaders to find a way to ensure the USG has strong
ties in Vicenza and a positive image that goes beyond
military relationships. Despite lingering bad feelings in
city hall, we have many local partners in this effort who
have the same goal, including officials at the provincial and
regional levels. We don't expect that regional elections in
the Veneto next March will change this atmosphere of
cooperation.
PEREZ