ITALY-RUSSIA SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS EVER STRONGER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001409 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019 TAGS: PREL ENGR PGOV OSCE NATO AF RS IT EUN SUBJECT: ITALY-RUSSIA SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS EVER STRONGER BILATERAL TIES Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Barbara Leaf for Reasons 1. 4 (B) and (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) MFA officials view the December 3 summit between PM Berlusconi, Russian President Medvedev and numerous cabinet minsters a showcase for the bright future of Italian-Russian relations. Historically strong economic, political and cultural ties between Italy and Russia were reinforced by the signing of 8 intergovernmental agreements and 10 contracts among private companies. FM Frattini stressed that Russia is an essential partner in guaranteeing Europe's security and achieving international stability and that Medvedev's European security proposals would be closely studied by the GOI and other EU governments. At an Italy-Russia Forum for Dialogue preceding the Summit, journalists, academics, and political, business, and civil society leaders discussed enhancing cultural, political and economic cooperation. End summary. RUSSIA ESSENTIAL TO EUROPEAN SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL STABILITY -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In the aftermath of the December 3 Russia-Italy summit, MFA Russia Desk Political Advisor Fabio Cristiani told us that the GOI had not begun to assess the Russian Draft European Security treaty, the so-called Medvedev proposals. In his view, the era of Russian isolation is over and it is inevitable that Russia will draw closer to Europe, especially Italy, Germany and France. He noted, however, that it would be illogical to expect NATO to change according to Russian expectations or conditions. Cristiani questioned whether Russia currently has the means to improve its security structure or defense. Commenting on Article 1 of the Treaty, Cristiani said it seems directed at NATO and implies that Russian security is inextricably linked to that of all NATO countries. While Article 8, in seeming contradiction, suggests (paragraph 1) that Russia wants to be protected from NATO; an apparent allusion to Russia's NATO enlargement bugbear. In Cristiani's view, Paragraph 2 implies Russia wants to condition NATO, but simultaneously be protected by it, a plausible position given the dire state of Russia's economy. Cristiani noted that Berlusconi did not discuss the draft security proposals in his meeting with Medvedev, but he voiced his expectation the draft Treaty would be a major focus of NATO, the EU, and the OSCE in the coming year. SUMMIT CONTEXT ENHANCES BUSINESS DEALS' SIGNIFICANCE -------------- -- ¶3. (C) MFA Russia Desk Director Roberto Orlando told us that the agreements signed between private sector companies gained added importance by being concluded at an official GOI-GOR summit and that while the Summit merely confirmed the existing excellent state of GOI-GOR relations, the media impact in Italy and Russia was significant. He noted that in Russia there were even complaints that too many ministers were gone all at once. ¶4. (C) Stressing that he did not know details of the agreements between private sector companies and ministries, Orlando mentioned that Finmeccanica had signed an agreement with the Russian Ministry of Transportation on implementing (non-military) security in Russian firms, and one on producing cars for the St. Petersburg tram system. Italian banks Intesa San Paolo and Mediobanca signed agreements with Russian Vneshtorg Bank to develop SMEs and finance industrial projects. Alitalia-Aeroflot signed a codesharing agreement in which Alitalia will support Aeroflot flights to South America, while Aeroflot will do the same for Alitalia flights to Asia. ¶5. (C) During the Summit, Eni,s CEO Paolo Scaroni and Gazprom,s Chairman Alexey Miller also signed an agreement for the formal entry of France,s EdF into the South Stream gas project. An Eni press statement said the agreement was signed in the presence of Russian President Medvedev and ROME 00001409 002 OF 003 Italian PM Berlusconi. At a separate December 10 meeting with the Ambassador and DCM, Scaroni described it as an agreement in principle. He said that the details over EdF,s participation in South Stream, such as the percentage of its participation and any additional conditions, will be worked out in the next few months. Scaroni added that South Stream will be a costly project and estimated that the Black Sea portion of the pipeline alone will cost 14 billion (Note: It was not clear if he meant Euros or Dollars). Nevertheless, he indicated that despite the high cost Gazprom had the means of financing South Stream. Scaroni explained that Gazprom extracts gas at a cost of 5 Euros per cubic meter and sells it in Europe for 200 Euros per cubic meter. He said that Gazprom will pay for South Stream with these gas profits. Scaroni stated that EdF,s participation in South Stream was the only agreement signed by Eni during the Italy-Russia summit. ¶6. (C) An MOU between the Italian and Russian Justice ministries outlined exchange activities, including GOI assistance to Russia in fighting organized crime and increased information sharing. In preparation for Italian-Russian Culture Year 2011, the ministers of culture signed an agreement planning for exchanges, exhibitions and promotion of Russian and Italian language study in each country's schools and universities. The agreement also provided for mutual recognition of of university degrees and qualifications. Orlando noted that Russian Defense Minister Serdyukov did not attend the Summit and that Italian Economy and Finance Minister Tremonti was the only minister present who did not sign an agreement with his Russian counterpart. FORUM FOR DIALOGUE HIGHLIGHTS COOPERATION -------------- ¶7. (C) A December 2 "Italy-Russia Forum for Dialogue" convened Italian and Russian business, civil society, and religious leaders, as well as journalists, academics, and two Russian regional government leaders. Three panels discussed "Political cooperation in the common European space," "Economic cooperation and opportunities after the crisis" and "Cultural cooperation." FM Frattini introduced the political cooperation panel; the economic presentations concluded with remarks by Confindustria President Emma Marcegaglia, Economic Development Minister Scajola and Russian Minister of Industry and Commerce Khristenko. Culture Minister Bondi and Education Minister Gelmini addressed the cultural cooperation panel which focused on the role of universities, media, and the Churches in EU integration. FRATTINI PLUGS FOR POLITICAL STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP -------------- ¶8. (C) Beginning his remarks by rhetorically asking why PM Berlusconi expends so much energy on relations with Russia, Frattini answered his own question the simplistic, mistaken response was economic interests. Noting that the world was becoming too Asia-Pacific oriented, Frattini characterized Russia as an indispensable political interlocutor for achieving international strategic stability and urged Europeans to be more "ambitious in inviting Russia to be more ambitious." Frattini called on all 27 EU countries to "coalesce around advancing an EU-Russian strategic agreement" in the coming year and also to establish EU-Russia free trade and visa-free zones. ¶9. (C) Frattini noted that the Obama administration's "reset" of U.S.-Russia relations had opened a window of opportunity which Italy strongly supported. Furthermore, NATO regards Russia as a partner, not an adversary, in combating terrorism, meeting challenges in Afghanistan, and convincing Iran to accept changes in its nuclear program. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) The Summit and Forum for Dialogue were given ample media coverage, highlighting to the Italian and Russian publics the strength of cooperation between the two governments. On the other hand, from what we know about the agreements signed, many details of their implementation still need to be worked out. On Medvedev's draft security ROME 00001409 003 OF 003 proposals, Italy is unlikely to form a position in favor of or against any of them except in close consultation with its NATO and EU colleagues. Frattini has been careful to underline that, however interesting or welcome, Russian security proposals cannot supplant existing NATO and OSCE structures. End comment. THORNE