Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME1206
2009-11-02 12:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY UNWILLING TO TAKE A POSITION ON FAO BUDGET
how-toVZCZCXRO6175 PP RUEHRN DE RUEHRO #1206 3061248 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021248Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2832 INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 4873 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1046 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 4648 RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY 0261
UNCLAS ROME 001206
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO: FOR JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FAO EFIN AORC EAGR EAID KUNR UN
SUBJECT: ITALY UNWILLING TO TAKE A POSITION ON FAO BUDGET
DISPUTE, DUE TO HOST GOVERNMENT CONCERNS
REF: SECSTATE 96467
UNCLAS ROME 001206
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO: FOR JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FAO EFIN AORC EAGR EAID KUNR UN
SUBJECT: ITALY UNWILLING TO TAKE A POSITION ON FAO BUDGET
DISPUTE, DUE TO HOST GOVERNMENT CONCERNS
REF: SECSTATE 96467
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOI will not/not divulge their
position on the proposed Food and Agriculture Organization
FAO budget increase because the FAO'S location in Rome,
according to GOI officials, renders the situation "delicate"
A senior GOI foreign assistance official said the GOI
supports some aspects of the emerging European Union (EU)
position on it, but likely will differ with the EU position
on the overall budget increase level. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) Post on October 5 conveyed to a senior official in
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) the USG's opposition to
the FAO budget increase and our request to the GOI to
likewise oppose it (reftel). Repeated attempts to elicit a
response were unsuccessful; the MFA referred us to the
Italian Mission to the FAO for a substantive reply. We
explained that we were asking the GOI to direct the Mission
to oppose the budget increase.
3. (SBU) On October 29, MFA Counselor Mauro Massoni, the
office director responsible for Italy's assistance to
multilateral organizations, finally told ECONOFF that, "we
are unwilling to state our position on this issue because of
the delicacy of the situation." He further explained that,
because the FAO is based in Rome, the GOI finds it awkward to
publicly oppose the proposed budget increase. Our USUN
colleagues have received the same explanation from the
Italian Mission to the FAO.
4. (SBU) On November 2, Massoni shared with ECONOFF the
results of the October 27 European Council FAO Coordination
Working Party meeting. He said that while Italy supports some
proposals in the EU Presidency options paper, such as those
regarding medical coverage and retirement, Italy likely will
differ with the proposals on the overall budget increase.
ECONOFF has forwarded the EU meeting minutes to John Tuminaro
in IO/HS.
THORNE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
IO: FOR JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: FAO EFIN AORC EAGR EAID KUNR UN
SUBJECT: ITALY UNWILLING TO TAKE A POSITION ON FAO BUDGET
DISPUTE, DUE TO HOST GOVERNMENT CONCERNS
REF: SECSTATE 96467
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The GOI will not/not divulge their
position on the proposed Food and Agriculture Organization
FAO budget increase because the FAO'S location in Rome,
according to GOI officials, renders the situation "delicate"
A senior GOI foreign assistance official said the GOI
supports some aspects of the emerging European Union (EU)
position on it, but likely will differ with the EU position
on the overall budget increase level. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) Post on October 5 conveyed to a senior official in
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) the USG's opposition to
the FAO budget increase and our request to the GOI to
likewise oppose it (reftel). Repeated attempts to elicit a
response were unsuccessful; the MFA referred us to the
Italian Mission to the FAO for a substantive reply. We
explained that we were asking the GOI to direct the Mission
to oppose the budget increase.
3. (SBU) On October 29, MFA Counselor Mauro Massoni, the
office director responsible for Italy's assistance to
multilateral organizations, finally told ECONOFF that, "we
are unwilling to state our position on this issue because of
the delicacy of the situation." He further explained that,
because the FAO is based in Rome, the GOI finds it awkward to
publicly oppose the proposed budget increase. Our USUN
colleagues have received the same explanation from the
Italian Mission to the FAO.
4. (SBU) On November 2, Massoni shared with ECONOFF the
results of the October 27 European Council FAO Coordination
Working Party meeting. He said that while Italy supports some
proposals in the EU Presidency options paper, such as those
regarding medical coverage and retirement, Italy likely will
differ with the proposals on the overall budget increase.
ECONOFF has forwarded the EU meeting minutes to John Tuminaro
in IO/HS.
THORNE