Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME176
2009-02-12 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
ITALY: MFA HESITANT IN PRESSING MOI ON CUBAN
how-toVZCZCXRO0342 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRO #0176 0431519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121519Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1616 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 9842 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3461 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 3634 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0045
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000176
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF SMIG KAWC IT CU
SUBJECT: ITALY: MFA HESITANT IN PRESSING MOI ON CUBAN
PROTECTED MIGRANT RESETTLEMENT
Classified By: A/DCM Barbara A. Leaf for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000176
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF SMIG KAWC IT CU
SUBJECT: ITALY: MFA HESITANT IN PRESSING MOI ON CUBAN
PROTECTED MIGRANT RESETTLEMENT
Classified By: A/DCM Barbara A. Leaf for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) A/DCM met February 10 with MFA Americas DG Verderame,
at the latter's request, as well as with Migration Deputy DG
Palladino to discuss our pending request for the resettlement
in Italy of Cuban protected migrant Luis Manuel Alfonso
Romero, currently at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo
Bay. Verderame updated us on the state of play, repeating
what we have heard previously, that MFA and MOI are at odds
over whether to grant the U.S. request, and underlined that
resolving the impasse will involve a "fight" between the two
ministries. Verderame suggested that since the MFA expects
to be receiving requests "soon" from the USG for the
resettlement of "other individuals" (i.e. Guantanamo
terrorism detainees),it might make sense for tactical
reasons to hold off on pressing MOI on Alfonso Romero. A/DCM
emphasized that there was no connection between protected
migrants and the issue ahead of us on terrorism detainees,
and said we were seeking the resettlement of Alfonso Romero
as soon as possible for humanitarian reasons.
2. (C) Comment: Since Verderame has to know that, when we
formalize our request on Guantanamo detainee resettlement, we
will likely do so at a political level, we do not read as
serious his suggestion that imposing the Alfonso Romero case
on a reluctant Ministry of Interior might make the Guantanamo
issue more difficult down the road. That said, Verderame
appeared to be hinting strongly that MOI was likely to
prevail in refusing our request on behalf of Alfonso Romero
absent a higher-level pressing of the case by Washington.
End Comment.
DIBBLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF SMIG KAWC IT CU
SUBJECT: ITALY: MFA HESITANT IN PRESSING MOI ON CUBAN
PROTECTED MIGRANT RESETTLEMENT
Classified By: A/DCM Barbara A. Leaf for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) A/DCM met February 10 with MFA Americas DG Verderame,
at the latter's request, as well as with Migration Deputy DG
Palladino to discuss our pending request for the resettlement
in Italy of Cuban protected migrant Luis Manuel Alfonso
Romero, currently at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo
Bay. Verderame updated us on the state of play, repeating
what we have heard previously, that MFA and MOI are at odds
over whether to grant the U.S. request, and underlined that
resolving the impasse will involve a "fight" between the two
ministries. Verderame suggested that since the MFA expects
to be receiving requests "soon" from the USG for the
resettlement of "other individuals" (i.e. Guantanamo
terrorism detainees),it might make sense for tactical
reasons to hold off on pressing MOI on Alfonso Romero. A/DCM
emphasized that there was no connection between protected
migrants and the issue ahead of us on terrorism detainees,
and said we were seeking the resettlement of Alfonso Romero
as soon as possible for humanitarian reasons.
2. (C) Comment: Since Verderame has to know that, when we
formalize our request on Guantanamo detainee resettlement, we
will likely do so at a political level, we do not read as
serious his suggestion that imposing the Alfonso Romero case
on a reluctant Ministry of Interior might make the Guantanamo
issue more difficult down the road. That said, Verderame
appeared to be hinting strongly that MOI was likely to
prevail in refusing our request on behalf of Alfonso Romero
absent a higher-level pressing of the case by Washington.
End Comment.
DIBBLE