Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME1275
2009-11-18 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT GOALS
how-toVZCZCXRO1527 OO RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #1275 3221448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181448Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2905 INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS IMMEDIATE 1928 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0004 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV IMMEDIATE 0339 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0430 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO IMMEDIATE 0065 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE IMMEDIATE 0832 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0263 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA IMMEDIATE 4348 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3894 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 0328 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 4108 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3060 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001275
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO PARM MARR KTIA BK GG MK MW UP
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT GOALS
REF: A. STATE 113840
B. SARAJEVO 1208
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Liam Wasley for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
Summary
------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001275
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO PARM MARR KTIA BK GG MK MW UP
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT GOALS
REF: A. STATE 113840
B. SARAJEVO 1208
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Liam Wasley for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) While the U.S. and GOI positions on NATO enlargement
and objectives for the December 3-4 NATO Foreign
Ministerial(ref A) are similar, the Italians want to be
cautious about setting the bar too high for obtaining
Membership Action Plan (MAP) status. Italy is keenly
interested in Euro-Atlantic aspirations and supports a
regional approach to the issue, but acknowledges each country
must be evaluated on its own merits and weaknesses. End
summary.
Need to Remain Flexible on MAP
--------------
2. (C) In a November 10 discussion with Poloff about Italy's
objectives for the December 3-4 NATO Foreign Ministerial ,
MFA Minister for International Security and Political
Military Affairs Carlo Batori agreed that not all of the
countries aspiring to NATO membership are ready for
Membership Action Plan (MAP) acceptance, but that &too
rigid8 benchmarks for granting of MAP should be avoided
because it would be dangerous to leave any one country behind
in the incremental process of EU-Atlantic integration. The
GOI believes a balance must be struck between adhering to the
standards for MAP accession and recognizing a particular
country's progress toward reform.
Each Country on Its Own Merits
--------------
3. (C) In considering individual countries, Batori
described Montenegro,s MAP request as well-founded and
predicted a decision to agree to it this December, with the
actual granting of MAP status at the end of the IPAP
(Individual Partnership Action Plan) cycle in June 2010.
4. (C) On Bosnia, Batori understands that consensus is far
from being achieved, with some countries wanting to grant MAP
in December to encourage further reforms, others believing
this is not feasible, and a third group offering the prospect
of Bosnia MAP accession on condition further reforms are
undertaken. Batori noted that any decision in December will
have to take in consideration the final outcome of the Butmir
talks (ref B).
5. (C) While Serbia has not yet pushed for MAP, Batori
indicated the GOI believes the December final communiqu
should leave the door open to granting Serbia MAP. Batori
said that showing openess to Belgrade supports pro-European
elements in the GOS; he expressed appreciation for the U.S.
agreeing to Serbia,s SEDM accession as another example of
such openess.
6. (C) As for Ukraine and Georgia,s NATO aspirations,
Batori agreed that neither was ready for MAP accession at
this time and both should continue pursuing their relations
with NATO through their respective NATO Commissions.
7. (C) Like the U.S., the GOI supports Macedonia,s bid to
join NATO, provided a solution to the name issue (with
Greece) is reached. According to Batori, the GOI hopes that
the new GOG will be more stable than the previous one and
thus confident enough to seek a mutually acceptable solution
with Macedonia.
THORNE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO PARM MARR KTIA BK GG MK MW UP
SUBJECT: ITALIAN SUPPORT FOR NATO ENLARGEMENT GOALS
REF: A. STATE 113840
B. SARAJEVO 1208
Classified By: Political Military Counselor Liam Wasley for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) While the U.S. and GOI positions on NATO enlargement
and objectives for the December 3-4 NATO Foreign
Ministerial(ref A) are similar, the Italians want to be
cautious about setting the bar too high for obtaining
Membership Action Plan (MAP) status. Italy is keenly
interested in Euro-Atlantic aspirations and supports a
regional approach to the issue, but acknowledges each country
must be evaluated on its own merits and weaknesses. End
summary.
Need to Remain Flexible on MAP
--------------
2. (C) In a November 10 discussion with Poloff about Italy's
objectives for the December 3-4 NATO Foreign Ministerial ,
MFA Minister for International Security and Political
Military Affairs Carlo Batori agreed that not all of the
countries aspiring to NATO membership are ready for
Membership Action Plan (MAP) acceptance, but that &too
rigid8 benchmarks for granting of MAP should be avoided
because it would be dangerous to leave any one country behind
in the incremental process of EU-Atlantic integration. The
GOI believes a balance must be struck between adhering to the
standards for MAP accession and recognizing a particular
country's progress toward reform.
Each Country on Its Own Merits
--------------
3. (C) In considering individual countries, Batori
described Montenegro,s MAP request as well-founded and
predicted a decision to agree to it this December, with the
actual granting of MAP status at the end of the IPAP
(Individual Partnership Action Plan) cycle in June 2010.
4. (C) On Bosnia, Batori understands that consensus is far
from being achieved, with some countries wanting to grant MAP
in December to encourage further reforms, others believing
this is not feasible, and a third group offering the prospect
of Bosnia MAP accession on condition further reforms are
undertaken. Batori noted that any decision in December will
have to take in consideration the final outcome of the Butmir
talks (ref B).
5. (C) While Serbia has not yet pushed for MAP, Batori
indicated the GOI believes the December final communiqu
should leave the door open to granting Serbia MAP. Batori
said that showing openess to Belgrade supports pro-European
elements in the GOS; he expressed appreciation for the U.S.
agreeing to Serbia,s SEDM accession as another example of
such openess.
6. (C) As for Ukraine and Georgia,s NATO aspirations,
Batori agreed that neither was ready for MAP accession at
this time and both should continue pursuing their relations
with NATO through their respective NATO Commissions.
7. (C) Like the U.S., the GOI supports Macedonia,s bid to
join NATO, provided a solution to the name issue (with
Greece) is reached. According to Batori, the GOI hopes that
the new GOG will be more stable than the previous one and
thus confident enough to seek a mutually acceptable solution
with Macedonia.
THORNE